In honour of the great but tragic 17th Century Romanian ruler Constantin Brancoveanu, Alexandrion Group launched their premium brandy ‘Brancoveanu Vinars’ at the Romanian National Opera House. A play depicting his life showed how this patron of culture and religion, inspiration for the architectural style Brancovenesque was eventually beheaded by the Ottomans, who killed his sons in front of him because he would not renounce the Christian faith.

     “Romania is a preferential market for Greek investments, due to the favourable economic environment, the centuries-long friendship between our peoples and our common mentality,” said the Greek deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Evripidis Stylianidis, visiting Bucharest last month. This was after Greece and Romania signed a protocol of cooperation in economy, industry and technology at the Greek-Romanian Inter-Governmental Commission for Cooperation. Stylianidis (left) with Iuliu Winkler, Romanian Minister Delegate for Trade (right).

     Finding out the best and worst about employees, where and where not to target their skills was the subject of the official local launch of US-based employee assessment programme Brainbench. Available through Maran Consulting in Romania and Republic of Moldova, its launch was attended by the US Embassy’s commercial attaché Cynthia Biggs and Anca Harasim, American Chamber of Commerce.

     Although Bucharest may be in the middle of routing its stray canine population, this did not deter the capital’s large Chinese diplomatic and resident community from celebrating the beginning of the Year of the Dog at the World Trade Center. This will be year of happiness and of separation, according to the calendar.

     “It is necessary to make virtue fashionable,” wrote Havana-born poet and freedom-fighter against colonial rule Jose Marti, whose libertarian philosophy and simple platitudes have stayed in vogue for the 153 years since he was born. To celebrate his birthday the Ambassador of Cuba Manuel I Herminda Medina joined Andrei Dragos, philosophy professor at Universitatea Bucuresti in reciting his work.

     Solidarity assured: Ambassadors of the Slovak and Czech Republics, Poland and Hungary joined forces to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Visegrad agreement, calling for greater cooperation between the four central European states following the collapse of Communism.

     The 150th anniversary of the abolition of Rroma slavery in Romania saw a March for Liberty, organised by the National Agency for Rroma, debate, book launches and concerts to help raise awareness of a culture still subject to prejudice
and ignorance.

     This nation is still a development opportunity for German entrepreneurs and investors, according to Erich Greipl, president of Munich’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the special guest at the New Year reception hosted by the German- Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Welcoming the New Year with a view at the upcoming EU accession were German Ambassador Wilfried Gruber,head of the EC Delegation Jonathan Scheele, Chamber president Karl- Joseph Baum, general manager Dirk Ruetze, Adrian Baicusi of Siemens, Mihai Rohan of Carpatcement, Bernd Kunzel of Raiffeisen Leasing, George Cristodorescu of E.On, Heike Meier of Rom Aval and many more.

     Iran’s community in Romania and the Ambassador Ali A Farazi welcomed dignitaries to the Diplomatic Club to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the Revolution of the Islamic Republic.

     “We have got used up till now in thinking that being reserved, thinking twice and then not saying anything at all is what makes a true diplomat,” said President Traian Basescu at the official opening of the Romanian Diplomatic Institute (IDR). “I ask you, diplomats, to think fast and say all there has to be said in favour of your country.” Boosting Foreign Minister Ungureanu’s ongoing shake-up of the diplomatic corps and under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IDR aims to provide Romanian diplomats with courses and expertise to elevate their professionalism.

     Software company Oracle celebrated this month its 10th anniversary on the Romanian market. Over 1,000 people gathered in the sumptuous Unirii hall at the Parliament Palace. Pictured on the right: Stefan Cojanu
head of the Romanian branch and Alfonso di Ianni Senior Vice President EU Enlargement Countries