National Day of Romania

Text: M. Zisso; Photo: Adriana Elena Bunea

H.E. Mrs. Cliona Manahan, Ambassador of Ireland, H.E. Ambassador Antoaneta Barta and her daughter

H.E. Mr. Hideo Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan and H.E. Ambassador Antoaneta Barta with her husband H.E. Mrs. Tanja Strnisa, Ambassador of Slovenia, Mr. Toni Strnisa, and H.E. Ambassador Antoaneta Barta

H.E. Mr. Alexandru Codreanu, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova and Mrs. Svetlana Codreanu, H.E. Ambassador Antoaneta Barta, her daughter and husband, and Valerica Bojan, Deputy Chief of Mission

On the occasion of the National Day of Romania, H.E. Ambassador Antoaneta Barta hosted a special reception at the beautiful Kaiserstein Palace. Here are the highlights of her speach: It is the fi rst National Day reception after a two years break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the fi rst one I am hosting in my capacity as Ambassador of Romania to the Czech Republic, which gives me an additional reason to be particularly pleased to have so many Romanian and Czech partners and friends here with us. This year was marked by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which was a good opportunity to intensify bilateral meetings in the margins of the informal Councils held in Prague. The Czech Presidency has been a trigger for more bilateral cooperation between Romania and the Czech Republic in several fi elds, from trade and economic cooperation, to justice and home aff airs, tourism or energy. 2022 has been therefore a very good year for the bilateral relations between Romania and the Czech Republic, both at political level and in the economic fi eld. In terms of trade, the Czech Republic is a signifi cant economic partner for Romania, ranking 8th in the EU and 10th worldwide in our foreign trade. In 2021, the total volume of trade between Romania and the Czech Republic has reached a record level 5.1 billion Euros, 15.8% higher than the previous year. This year was also marked, unfortunately, by Russia’s war

H.E. Mrs. Antoaneta Barta, Ambassador of Romania at her speech H.E. Ambassador Antoaneta Barta with guests of honor: Vít Rakušan, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and Jaroslav Kurfurst, Deputy Minister of Foreign Aff airs

of aggression against Ukraine, a war that is literally at our border. Romania, like the Czech Republic, is very strongly engaged in supporting Ukraine. 2022 is also the year of several important anniversaries for

Romania: 15 years since we joined the European Union

and 20 years since we received the offi cial invitation to join NATO, at the NATO Summit which took place in Prague, in 2002 and 160 years since the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Romania. 160 years of modern Romanian diplomacy - 160 years of concrete and valuable contribution to the development of Romania‘s international relations, to the democratic path of the Romanian state. On the occasion of the National Day of Romania, I wish for both Romania and the Czech Republic to stay strong together in defence of our shared values, and to remember past solidarity and common history as a strong impetus for closer cooperation in the future.

H.E. Ambassador Antoaneta Barta, her daughter and husband, with H.E. Mr. Gregoire Cuvelier, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium and Mrs. Bernadette Cuvelier on the left