By Ambassador (p) Gheorghe SAVUICA*
In his speech at the Reception celebrating the 84 Anniversary of the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Romania, after underlining the successful socio-economic uplift of the people of his great country, the core of its foreign policy as an ardent proponent of global peace, the objectives for developing the relations with all countries of the world, especially major powers and immediate neighbours, position of Pakistan on Afghanistan, terrorism, developments in Ukraine and in the Middle East, has, as well, dwelt upon the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Romania.
As a former Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan I had the chance to get in touch with the developments in Pakistan and the targets of its active foreign policy. Certainly, I tried my level best to contribute to further upgrading the excellent relations so happily existing between our two countries and people.
It is indeed the most appropriate circumstances for The Romanian Institute for Europe and Asia Studies- IRSEA, as well as for me personally, to renew our deepest appreciation and sincere thanks to H.E. Ambassador Dr. Zafar Iqbal for his kind and dedicated assistance to enter into partnership with the most important think-tanks in his country, being now a positive component of the relations between both countries.
IRSEA has the honor to present, with the consent from H.E. Ambassador Zafar Iqbal, the full reference in his speech to the relations between Pakistan and Romania.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
As for our relations with Romania, I feel happy to say that our two countries have always enjoyed good friendly relationship. In October this year, we would be celebrating 60 years of establishing diplomatic relations.
I avail this opportunity to reaffirm to our Romanian friends and leadership that Pakistan has an abiding interest in further strengthening and enlarging existing relations in diverse areas with Romania which we believe is an important EU member and a country of strategic importance.
Ladies and gentleman,
Our focus is to further strengthen our friendship and build on the recent progress made in economic and trade relations as well as academic and think tank collaboration. Our bilateral trade during last three years has increased six times, and crossed USD 300 million. The universities and think tanks have entered into and operationalized a number of collaborative arrangements. The heads of some of these think tanks are here today among distinguished guests.
Cooperation in human resource sector has also recorded significant progress.
We look forward to a broad-based & closer cooperation with Romania in the years ahead”. And I wish all of you good health and happiness.
Doamnelor si Domnilor
Este o perioadă de binecuvântări pentru noi toți. În timp ce musulmanii respectă Ramadanul, mulți dintre prietenii români sunt în postul Paștelui. Vă doresc tuturor multă sănătate și fericire. Și le doresc pace tuturor celor afectați de război și conflicte.
Vă doresc un post binecuvântat și Dumnezeu să ne asculte rugăciunile !
O seară bună!
Mulțumesc foarte mult!
IRSEA is a think-tank having the target to contribute to the consolidation the vivid tendency of approaching between Europe and Asia and Asia and Europe, to assist Romania’s role in this significant equation as well as to bring its contribution to the development of Romania’s relations with states from Asia-Pacific, focussing, in particular, on South and Southeast Asia and ASEAN. Certainly, IRSEA is also following the geopolitical and strategic dynamics in the above mentioned tumultuous region.
* The author is the Founder and President of IRSEA and Founder and Honorary President of Romania-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is a graduate of Moscow State Institute of International Relations. As a career diplomat with over four decades of diplomatic service, an University recognized specialist on Southeast Asia and ASEAN, speaker of Bahasa Indonesia, Russian and English, he represented Romania as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Pakistan and Indonesia and Chief of Mission, with Cabinet Letter, to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cyprus, Finland and Estonia.
He published multiple articles, thought-pieces and commentaries reflecting his views on current dynamics in International Affairs and the ongoing developments related to the greater scope of Europe Asia relations. He authored several major chapters in edited volumes on Romania’s Foreign Policy, published by the Romanian Academy.
Ambassador (p) Savuica is a former Director of the Republic of Moldova Division, former Director of the Asia Pacific Division and former Director General of the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROMANIA.
He is married and has two daughters, a granddaughter and a grandson.