Minister plants ‘Tolerance Tree’ in Romania park

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Teodor Melescanu, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, planted the “Tolerance Tree” at the Unirii Square Park in Bucharest on Thursday.

The ceremony was part of the “Tolerance Trees” initiative being implemented in the “Year of Tolerance” by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation.

The Unirii Square Park is one of the Romania’s most popular tourist attractions, boasting a green area, surrounded by dancing fountains. It is used as a venue for many public events around the year. The park was selected as home for the “Tolerance Tree” due to its strategic location in the centre of Bucharest and its popularity with tourists and city commuters.

The ceremony was attended by Petre Daea, Romanian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Dr Ahmed Abdullah Al Matroushi, UAE Ambassador to Bucharest; Gabriela Firea, Mayor of Bucharest; diplomats and other dignitaries.

Sheikh Abdullah highlighted tolerance as an inherent value of the UAE.

“Tolerance is a key pillar for community development and the prosperity of the humankind,” he added.

Melescanu thanked Sheikh Abdullah for this initiative, which, he said, is a reflection of the UAE’s image as a beacon of global tolerance.

The UAE and Romania established diplomatic relations in 1989. The UAE opened its embassy in Bucharest in 1990, while Romanian embassy in Abu Dhabi was opened in 2004.

Last year, more than 56,000 Romanians visited the UAE. There are over 7,000 Romanian living in the UAE.

Earlier during the day, Viorica Dancila, Prime Minister of Romania, received Sheikh Abdullah Bin in Bucharest.

In the meeting during Sheikh Abdullah’s official visit, both sides discussed the bilateral relations between the UAE and Romania, while exchanging their opinions on several regional and international issues of common interest.

Sheikh Abdullah also conveyed the wishes of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, for greater advancement and prosperity of Romania.

Dancila asked Sheikh Abdullah to convey her greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, as well as her wishes for greater development and prosperity of the UAE.

Sheikh Abdullah said the UAE is looking forward to strengthening its bilateral relations with Romania and improving the overall cooperation to benefit their peoples.

Dancila welcomed the visit of Sheikh Abdullah, while affirming its key role in strengthening the bilateral relations between their countries.

The meeting was attended by Ahmed Abdullah Saeed Al Matroushi, UAE Ambassador to Romania.

Sheikh Abdullah also held bilateral talks with Teodor Melescanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania. In the meeting during Sheikh Abdullah’s official visit to Romania that coincides with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both nations, the ministers lauded the bilateral cooperation.

The two officials emphasised the dynamism of the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and expressed their keenness to develop these ties in all fields, especially in economy and investments

The two parties discussed the opportunities for the joint cooperation and concrete ways to diversify and deepen the cooperation in various fields such as trade, agriculture, infrastructure, transportation, and Information and Communications Technology, ICT.

The two officials stressed the importance of enhancing investments between the two friendly countries by encouraging and supporting direct contacts between the relevant entities and institutions in the UAE and Romania.

WAM