Firdous says people-to-people contact to help boost Pak ties with Romania, EU

Lauds services of outgoing EU ambassador Cautain for promoting Pak-EU relations

Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan promotion of people to people contact will help enhance relations between Pakistan, Romania and the European Union.

She was speaking at an event organised by Embassy of Romania collaboration with Centre for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS) organised reception to celebrate the successful completion of Romanian tenure as President of European Union Council and to bid farewell to Ambassador of European Union Jean-François Cautain.

Romanian Ambassador Nicolae Goia has said Romania’s presidency of the European Council has been a successful office, in which Romania proved to be strongly attached to European values and has acted to strengthen the European project.

He expressed these views while speaking on the occasion of a reception he hosted to mark the end of the presidency and to bid farewell to the Ambassador of the European Union.

He recognised services of the outgoing ambassador of European Union Jean Francois Cautain for promotion of EU-Pakistan relations.

Ambassador Goia said during the tenure of Ambassador Cautain, relations between EU countries and Pakistan touched new heights.

The ambassador further added that in six months of the Romanian term we have shown promptitude, efficiency and professionalism, given that Romania’s presidency of the EU Council took place in a complex and dynamic context, marked by the European elections, as well as the developments related to Brexit, by an ever changing international environment.

He said the presidency of the Council of the EU has had great symbolic value for Romania and Romanians can be proud of the results achieved during these six months.

Ambassador Goia further said Romania has an important say in the European project, our country being the first state in that capacity to present its priorities in the European Economic Council.

“We can talk about a record review; 90 legislative files were closed in record time. We have campaigned for equal rights and freedom for all citizens, for the promotion of Romania’s interests and for the establishment of dialogue as the main decision-making instrument,” said the ambassador.

CGSS President Major General (Retd) Syed Khalid Amir Jaffery said EU Presidency has been dedicated promote the dialogue among the EU members to ensure the safety of the European citizens, from internal and external threats.

Pakistan and Romania have enjoyed friendly relations since the initiation of their diplomatic relations in 1964. Both countries emerged out of the struggle of oppressed and suppressed people against the imperialism.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2019.