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Nicolae Popescu Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Republic of Moldova/caption
Nicolae Nicu Popescu was born on April 25 1981 in Chiinău Republic of Moldova. He studies at the State Institute of International Relations in Moscow the Russian Federation (degree in political science and international relations 2002) and the Central European University in Budapest Hungary (masters degree in international relations and European studies 2003; Ph.D. in political science
magna cum laude 2009).
He works as a researcher (the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels Belgium 2005-2007) program and research manager (the European Council on foreign Relations/ECFR Office in London 2007-2009 2011-2012) advisor on Foreign Policy and European Integration (the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Republic of Moldova 2010 2011-2012) senior analyst (the European Union Institute for Security Studies 2013-2016) university lecturer (Institute of Political Studies in Paris France 2016-2019) program director ( Extended Europe European Council for External Relations 2018-2019).
Nicu Popescu has been appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Republic of Moldova (June 8 2019 - to present).
During the period of September 18 to 19 2019 a delegation of the Government of the Republic of Moldova led by the Prime Minister Maia Sandu paid a visit to the United States. Minister Nicu Popescu was a delegation member. On September 18 2019 the delegation met with the Diaspora representatives in Washington DC at the Rayburn House Office Building. At the end of that meeting Minister Nicu Popescu accepted to grant me an exclusive interview.
1. Minister Nicu Popescu you are the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Republic of Moldova. What are the goals of your visit to the United States?
We have a strategic partnership with the United States. We have an excellent relationship we have an enormous support from the United States both politically and economically financially educationally and we want to develop this relationship. Previously Moldova and the United States went through some stages some more difficult relations. Last year the USAID the American Agency for Assistance suspended or froze several assistance projects for Moldova. The European Union suspended the assistance provided to Moldova last year. We are now in a position to reopen the doors in Washington Brussels and this visit is part of these diplomatic efforts to reconnect Republic of Moldova to the Western space.
2. Very encouraging. Thank you. What are the challenges that Republic of Moldova is now facing in your field of activity?
So my field of activity is not isolated from other fields. The main challenge facing the Republic of Moldova is corruption a high degree of corruption that creates economic demographic and geopolitical risks. Because we know well that some corrupt institutions are also open to adverse geopolitical influences. And in this regard corruption is the main scourge of Republic of Moldova. And diplomatically obviously we are in a region where there are several geo-political cleavages that we must manage.
3. Last question Mr. Minister Sir. How do you see in your opinion the role of Romania in fulfilling the goals of the Republic of Moldova?
We have an excellent relationship with Romania; it is the largest trading partner. 27 percent of Moldovas exports go to Romania. Romania supports us also bilaterally. We have several infrastructure interconnection projects. Our goal the aim of the Chiinău government is to move not just to the language culture and history community with Romania but to develop an infrastructure community. Romania is building a new gas pipeline in the Republic of Moldova. We want the construction of several bridges. We want to connect the Republic of Moldova to the Union Highway which is being built. So we have a lot of projects that target concrete benefits for the citizens on both sides of the Prut River and ultimately aim at reconnecting the Republic of Moldova to the European space through Romania and with Romania.
4. Thank you Minister.
Thank you.
NOTE - A version of the article was published in MEDIUM.
TIBERIU DIANU has published several books and a host of articles in law politics and post-communist societies. He currently lives and works in Washington DC and can be followed on MEDIUM.
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