#DiplomaticCentennial Nicolae Comanescu: Jordan, a genuine partner to Romania, Euro-Atlantic community

Through a balanced policy and high-level strategic thinking, Jordan is an essential factor for the stability of its region, and it is a genuine partner to Romania and the Euro-Atlantic community in general, Romania's ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Nicolae Comanescu told AGERPRES in a recent interview.

In his e-mail interview, Comanescu talked about the history of political, diplomatic and economic ties between Romania and Jordan, and about the role of the Romanian Jordanian community in their consolidation. The diplomat said that there is great openness to identifying and stimulating new trade and investment opportunities. In his view, cultural and educational co-operation is also a priority, as well as the promotion and development of tourism between the two countries.

Comanescu specified that the priority of his diplomatic mission is to strengthen co-operation in the field of higher education. ''The Romanian education system is well known and highly praised in Jordan, especially because of a large number of Jordanian graduates who have contributed to the development of Jordan and who are today recognised as specialists in the Jordanian state, holding important public offices in Jordan, from ministers and lawmakers to local administrations.''

Comanescu mentioned events organied for the Centennial of Romania's December 1, 1918 Greater Union, pointing to a significant project, the exhibition "Tricolour," dedicated to the Romanian national flag, "a symbol that has marked historic events". The local Romanian community will get involved in a series of events and media appearances in Jordan on the occasion of December 1, Romania's national day.

The interview is part of the editorial project #DiplomaticCentennial unfolded by AGERPRES throughout the year, focusing on diplomatic relations in the context of the 100th anniversary of the Greater Union.

AGERPRES: Jordan, the country where you are conducting your diplomatic mission, lies in a highly volatile region if we think of the war in neighbouring Syria, instability in Iraq or the latest events in Israel and the Palestinian territories. How difficult is the mission of a high-ranking diplomat in such a region?

Nicolae Comanescu: The region is really extremely complex and, as you have well said, is very volatile. Jordan is surrounded by a series of conflicts, varied and interconnected ones, by their nature and the action of those involved. The impact of these conflicts on Jordan is massive, reflected in the economy and society, and not least visible by the pressure of a large number of refugees whose accommodation calls for major efforts on the part of the authorities, as well as considerable international support.

In this tense context, the Hashemite Kingdom seeks to promote and represent a model of reform, openness and tolerance in society. Jordan, through the policies it pursues, is an anchor of stability in the region, trying through an active foreign policy to represent a moderate voice and a balance factor. Its role is a difficult one, but Jordan's leadership is effective. Through this balanced policy and strategic thinking at a high level, Jordan is an essential factor for the stability of the region and a genuine partner to Romania and the Euro-Atlantic community in general.

After almost two years of my tenure, I can say that Jordan is a complex, dynamic and very beautiful country. And I would say the same about the mission of the diplomats accredited here, or at least mine, professionally and personally speaking. There are many challenges; it is not an easy mission, but we also have many satisfactions, because we are constantly making progress with the relationship between the two countries. This reality is also due to the professionalism of the Jordanian interlocutors, to the constant support they give us at the political level. Jordan is a country with a great tourist potential, which we try to support and encourage, a country with friendly and open people who look considerately to Romania.

AGERPRES: How did the relations between Romania and Jordan evolve since the establishment of diplomatic ties on April 2, 1965? What areas have potential for their development?

Nicolae Comanescu: The relations between Romania and Jordan have seen a long history of political, diplomatic and economic co-operation, which have witnessed a permanent consolidation. The relationships have also been substantially strengthened by a strong and active Romanian-Jordanian community. It can be said with certainty that there is a positive background of the relationship and a great potential for deepening co-operation in several specific areas.

During my term of office, I have considered treating economics with the highest degree of priority. There is great openness on our part to identifying and stimulating new business and investment opportunities. We also have the necessary legal framework, with bilateral documents having been signed for this purpose in the last years. We are pursuing the growth and diversification of bilateral trade, including by supporting Jordanian imports to Romania, and concrete ways have already been identified following the latest visits and the organisation of a business forum in April this year attended by over 100 Romanian and Jordanian companies.

Co-operation in the cultural and educational areas is also a priority, as one of the best ways to bring our societies closer together.

Promoting and developing tourism between our countries is another direction of interest that is constantly pursued; we have already seen progress with at least the number of Romanian tourists visiting Jordan.

In order to boost contacts between our countries, we are currently working on simplifying travel procedures. We are looking at streamlining the visa issuing process through an online application system, which substantially reduces visa waiting times.We therefore have all the premises for elevating the overall relationship to the next level, and the high frequency of late as well as the high level of the bilateral political dialogue can support such an objective.

AGERPRES: The Ministry for Romanians Abroad and the Ministry of European Funds are running the Diaspora Start-UP programme, which provides funding for Romanian citizens abroad and those who have recently returned to Romania and want to use their professional skills acquired abroad by opening up a business in Romania. How many Romanians in Jordan have benefitted from this programme?

Nicolae Comanescu: From our data, there are no Romanian citizens in Jordan who have benefitted from the Diaspora Start-Up program to date. I have always encouraged Romanian citizens in Jordan to apply, through the three Romanian associations, for the Diaspora programmes, and I believe that thanks to the specificity of the Romanian community in Jordan there is great potential. Represented mostly by women married to Jordanians, the community is organised in associations with a Romanian profile, which constantly contribute support or act in support of the embassy to the promotion of traditional Romanian products, most of them being created by members of the associations and having a high qualitative and aesthetical level.

These products are highly praised locally, with a good example being the Diplomatic Bazaar, a traditional product exhibition with charity sales, where the embassy, with support from the community, has been well represented, including through a substantial donation.

Improving the organisation of these associations or through individual initiatives of the community representatives to develop projects that are constantly encouraged by the embassy, accessing government funds available to support the Diaspora can be mentioned among the concrete ways to expand and enhance the community's activity and interests.

AGERPRES: The same ministry also conducts the publishing project Revista Comunitatilor Romanesti [Romanian Communities Magazine], which aims to promote and support the activities of the Romanian associations, in order to create new connections between the associative entities outside the country borders and also to invite them as partners for dialogue with the Ministry. What is the current status of this project of the Romanian community in Jordan?

Nicolae Comanescu: The Jordanian - Romanian Forum for Culture (JRFC), one of the most active and dynamic associations, led by Mrs. Geanina Abu Al-Haija, constantly cooperates with the Romanian Communities Magazine, by publishing articles that present the cultural activities organized by the JRFC, and also by promoting the magazine among the Romanian communities in Jordan, through the JRFC (web-site, social media etc.)

JRFC and the other Romanian Jordanian associations (the Association of Romanian Women in Jordan for Social Development, led by Mrs. Viloria Dawood, and the Romanian - Jordanian Cultural Forum for Youth, led by Mrs. Maria Barakat) constantly carry out activities meant to preserve the Romanian language and culture alive among the members of the Romanian community in Jordan (especially among the second generation of Romanians - coming from mixed families), supporting thus, even if not through direct dialogue, the objectives of the Ministry for Romanians Abroad.

AGERPRES: The number of the Romanian citizens in Jordan is estimated at around 3,500 people, most of them holding Jordanian citizenship. In the past year, they created organisations representing the Romanian and Romanian - Jordanian communities. What is their role and what activities do they promote?

Nicolae Comanescu: The number of Romanian citizens in Jordan is of approximately 5,000 people, most of them coming from mixed families, with Jordanian citizens who studied in Romania in the 1970s-1980s. Most of the Romanian citizens obtained the Jordanian citizenship after they founded a family and they settled in Jordan. We support them wholeheartedly and we encourage them to keep in touch with the Embassy.

There are two Romanian associations active in Jordan at this time and one club of the Jordanians who graduated Romanian universities. The core role of these associations is to promote the interests of the Romanian community, with emphasis on the cultural profile, with the club aspiring to support the relation of cooperation between Romania and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The Romanian associations get involved, by supporting the embassy, or even organize themselves, separately, their own events promoting Romanian culture, civilization and traditions - "Brancusi Day," "Romanian Language Day," Martisorului Day" etc. Occasionally, the community also gets involved in supporting some of their co-nationals facing difficult periods, such as financial difficulties or domestic conflicts.

We support the associative environment and we promote projects of interest for them, including by attracting funds from institutions in Romania. One of the concrete projects that we would like to see accomplished is the organisation of Romanian language courses and we are counting on the support of the associations in this respect.

With respect to the former graduates of Romanian universities - approximately 13,000 of them - they are now successful specialists having substantial experience in the most diverse fields, and they enjoy the respect of the communities they belong to and of Romania especially. Their success represents a reason of pride for the Romanian schools and helping them to stay in touch with Romania is a privilege for the Embassy.

The collaboration with both categories has always worked very well, the Romanian language and culture functioning like a bridge between the two communities. We must underscore that the two communities play a special role. They represent a bridge between our societies, contributing to the increase of trust, sympathy and mutual friendship and development of a real foundation on which we can further build the solid relation between our countries.

A priority of my mandate is to strengthen cooperation in the higher education field. Although Romania cannot grant us the same number of scholarship as it did in the 1970s-1980s, I believe that by establishing direct relations between universities from Romania and Jordan we would have a direct growth means in the next interval, through student exchanges, including by accessing European programmes, such as Erasmus Plus.

The Romanian education system is well known and appreciated in Jordan, especially due to the large number of Jordanian graduates who contributed to the development of Jordan and who are recognized today as specialists in high offices in Jordan, some of them being ministers or MPs or local representatives.

AGERPRES: Having in mind the concern to preserve the identity of the Romanians in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through culture, language and traditions, as well as to promote Romanian and European culture among the Jordanians, in 2014, the Romanian Cultural Institute adhered to the EUNIC cluster in Amman. How is this collaboration evolving and what are its objectives for the Romanian communities?

Nicolae Comanescu: Participation in the EUNIC projects has become a constant activity of the mission in promoting Romanian culture and the common European values. The affiliation of the Romanian Cultural Institute to the EUNIC cluster in Amman brings a plus value to the efforts made by the embassy to promote these objectives in Jordan, with their purpose to have a local representative of Romania at the cluster.

The deep European context against which the EUNIC projects are developed integrates the promotion of the Romanian language and culture with the system of values and principles underlying the European civilization. This association extends the values, impact and target audience of our cultural projects.

We also need to mention that the EUNIC Amman activity is one of the most consistent in the region, with the cluster being regarded as a model in terms of the number and consistency of the activities it organizes. The EUNIC programme includes a diversity of cultural and artistic activities (concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, linguistic and culinary activities etc.) and collaboration goes on very well.

Among the best known and wide projects are the European Day of Languages and the European Film Festival (at its 30th anniversary this year), which we constantly participated in after the affiliation of the ICR to the cluster. Besides the constant support of the ICR in endorsing these activities, this year we also had a contribution from the Romanian associative environment to the activities carried out by the embassy under the EUNIC umbrella, which aspect capitalizes on the cultural potential existing among the members of the Romanian community in Jordan.

AGERPRES: The year 2018 is the year of the Greater Union Centennial. What events will Romania's Embassy to Jordan organise on this occasion?

Nicolae Comanescu: The Greater Union Centennial represents an anniversary of special significance for all Romanians. Same as the outstanding achievement of 1918, of uniting Romanians from the main Romanian provinces, its Centennial must be an occasion marking the force, unity and continuity of the Romanian people. We planned to celebrate this idea all throughout the year, both within the events that are part of the annual cultural programme (the Brancusi Day, the Union Day, the Francophony Day, the Romanian Language Day, the National Day), which we grant a wider importance and visibility, making known its anniversary and special significance, and by introducing some new projects and events, especially devoted to the Centennial.

Included in the latter category, we mention a series of collaborations of the Embassy with the mass media, mainly TV as well as written press, to make known to the wide public in the residence country the symbol of the Centennial and Romania. A first invitation has already taken place, to a cultural show enjoying a great audience, during which the representatives of the Romanian community presented Romanian traditions and folk costumes (their presence having been facilitated by the Embassy).

A significant project devoted to the anniversary of the Greater Union Centennial, which we are very proud of, is the "Tricolour" exhibition, dedicated to the Romanian flag, a special symbol of the historic events we are celebrating. It is an arts project initiated and completed exclusively on a local level, with a special impact and symbolic nature, which enjoyed a first success in its launch within the Francophony Week, together with France's Embassy in Amman.

For the "Tricolour" exhibition, a Jordanian painter, Khaloun Daoud, made artistic creations exclusively using the three colours of the Romanian flag (oil paintings on canvas and wood, sculptures and wooden items, watercolour). All paintings and arts objects exhibited represent, in the artist's vision, Romania's faces - from the beauty of its nature to soul features of the Romanian people. The exhibition was organised with the support of Jordanian businessman Hasan Wahbeh, a university graduate in Romania. The personalities of the two and their affinity to Romania turned this project into an impressive artistic act and a beautiful cultural connection bridge between Jordan and Romania. We are planning on opening the exhibition in Romania as well.

The launch of this exhibition at the French Institute was a successful event. There were about 150 participants, among whom high officials of Jordan (ministers), representatives of the diplomatic corps (ambassadors, cultural attaches, etc.), members of the local academic, business and media environments (Jordan TV Chairman, etc.). The creativity, originality and symbolism of the exhibition had a real image impact, enjoying a special appreciation from the audience.

At the same time, we wished to celebrate the Centennial with France, because its support was essential in materialising the historic achievement represented by the Greater Union, and because in 2018 we also celebrate 170 years since the first presentation of the tricolour flag in Paris, in the context of the French revolution.

We have other events planned, by the end of the year, but the most significant will definitely be those organised in the context of the National Day, on 1 December, marking the actual anniversary of the 100 years since the Greater Union, which organisation is in full swing.

In the European Film Festival, to take place in October, we will project "Untamed Romania" film, which will open the festival. The opening ceremony enjoys maximum visibility and will certainly be a good opportunity to mark the Centennial.

We will also have a series of events and appearances in the mass media of Jordan, as we get near 1 December, and we will invite the Romanian community of Jordan to get involved in these actions. AGERPRES (RO - author: Violeta Gheorghe, editor: Mariana Ionescu; EN - authors: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, Cristina Zaharia, Adina Panaitescu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)