His mandate as Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Romania in the Republic of Tunisia contributed to the dynamization of the bilateral relations between Romania and Tunisia.
Since 1963, bilateral relations are governed by a legal framework comprising more than 50 agreements. Numerous agreements have been negotiated and signed during his mandate, including an executive program in the field of health and medical sciences (2018); a cooperation agreement between the [1] (DNA) in Romania and the [2] (INLUCC) in Tunisia; a cooperation agreement between Diplomatic institutes (2018); a cooperation agreement between UTICA (Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts) and the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2019); a Protocol of cooperation between the Government of Tunisia and the Government of Romania in the field of civil protection (2019); A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia and the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania (2020).
At the institutional level, he also established a close bilateral cooperation between INLUCC and Romanian institutions such as the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), National Integrity Agency (ANI), and Crime Prevention Directorate of the Ministry of Justice.
Also, during his mandate, a strong partnership was established between the National Civil Protection Office of Tunisia and the Department for Emergency Situations of Romania, between the courts of Auditors of the two countries, between national radio stations and there are also many other examples…
In the first half of 2019, under his direction, the activities organized by the Embassy of Romania in Tunis on the sidelines of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union included public and cultural diplomacy events, coordination meetings, political and diplomatic events and a debate on EU-Africa relations.
As a representative of the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council and the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER), he also participated in the 3rd round of EU-Tunisia high-level political dialogue on security and the fight against terrorism.
In 2019, he was part of the European Union Election Observation Mission in Tunisia (EU EOM). During his mandate, he also played an active role in the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in Tunisia (GAF) especially in the perspective of the 2021 Francophonie Summit in Djerba.
During 2017-2021, numerous visits to Tunisia took place not only by Romanian officials but also by political, cultural, sports and academic personalities from Romania.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodor Meleșcanu, came to Tunis, between 19 and 20 April 2018; concurrently with the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Embassy of Romania.
Also, several delegations from the Romanian institutions and the Romanian Parliament carried out working visits to Tunisia.
In the context of the Libyan civil war, he coordinated, on the Tunisian side, several repatriation operations of Romanian citizens from the war zone.
In order to strengthen decentralized bilateral cooperation, he supported the development of cooperation between municipalities in Romania and Tunisia: Tunis-Timișoara, Tunis-Arad, Djerba Midoun- Bușteni, Petriș-Takrouna, Iași-Ariana.
Despite the difficult economic situation, economic relations have become more dynamic under his mandate. Thus, Romania has become the 13th trading partner and the 11th supplier for Tunisia.
The main products exported are: cereals (32%), oil and oil derivates (25%), cars and electric appliances (13%), iron and steel, wood and wood products, inorganic chemicals boilers, motors and other mechanical appliances.
Also, many other numerous meetings and economic events were organized to promote Romania together with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Tunis, Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, Beja.
Furthermore, the Embassy of Romania in Tunis and Romanian private companies have prepared the Romanian Stand at SIAMAP – International Exhibition of Agriculture, agricultural machinery and fisheries.
During his mandate, the number of Romanian investments in Tunisia has increased: according to data provided by the Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Investments, there are 9 companies with a capital of 41,581 million dinars and 600 jobs were created. Six of these companies operate in the Textile/ Clothing Sector, one in the Pharmaceutical industry and the others in the building materials sector.
Another concrete example is the presence of Romanian companies on the Tunisian market and the inauguration in 2017 of water drilling works in Oued Retem CI02 site (17 km after Nafta, Tozeur governorate), in the south of Tunisia, a project developed by the Romanian company “Drillstone”.
Tunisian investments in Romania also included 25 million Euros, invested in the “ORADEA” project in the car cable sector (Câbleries Chakira).
When the pandemic began, at the beginning of 2020, he coordinated the repatriation of Romanian citizens.
In addition, and in order to support the Romanian citizens in the pandemic context, the Embassy of Romania in Tunis created a network and made available the contact details of some pharmacists, Romanian doctors and Tunisian doctors who speak Romanian.
Culturally and academically, his mandate was marked by the establishment, for the first time, of new Romanian institutions in Tunisia such as the Center for Culture and Science of Romania in Tunisia (2018) and the Romanian Lectorate in the Bourguiba Institute for Modern Languages (2020).
Again on his initiative, the Romanian Languages courses for the children of the Romanian community in Tunisia were started at the Consular Section of the Diplomatic Mission.
Furthermore, during his mandate and for the first time, was organized in 2018 “Campus Roumanie”. It was the biggest educational event in the history of Romanian-Tunisian bilateral relations. Representatives of 17 Romanian and 14 Tunisian universities were present at the University Forum. Concrete opportunities for cooperation were explored and more than 30 partnerships were concluded.
In order to support the Romanian citizens in Tunisia and the tens of thousands of Romanian tourists who visit Tunisia each year, the Honorary Consulate of Romania was established in Hammamet (2019) covering the governorates of Nabeul and Sousse.
According to estimates from the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism, more than 25 424 Romanians traveled to Tunisia between January and October 2019.
He also supported the creation of the Association of Tunisian graduates in Romania (2018) and the Tunisian-Romanian Cultural Association (2020).
On 27 October 2020, at his initiative, the Mayor of Tunis, Souad Abderahim, inaugurated officially the “Queen Marie of Romania Plaza” located in “Cité Jardins” district in front of the Consular Section of the Embassy of Romania in Tunis. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dip.Dipaa (talk • contribs) 13:43, 22 January 2021 (UTC)Reply
References
- ^ National Anticorruption Directorate
- ^ National Anticorruption Authority
