Romania Union Day

Deputy Ambassador Cosmin Onisii greets the Ambassdor of Greece Dimitrios Caramitsos-Tziras

Ambassador Mihalache greets the Ambassador of Poland Professor Arkady Rzegocki

The Dutch Ambassador Mr Simon Smits and the new Ambassador for Bosnia Herzegovina Mrs Valentina Marinčić

The Romanian Ambassador and Mrs Mihalache welcome the new Ambassador of Macedonia Mrs Aleksandra Miovska

Ambassador and Mrs Mihalache and the Ambassador of Slovakia Dr L’ubomír Rehák

Romanian Ambassador and Mrs Mihalache welcome Lord Boswell, chair of the EU Select Committee in the House of Lords

Adriana Cristea performs two pieces by Romanian composers Anghelus Dinicu and Ciprian Porumbescu

Guests were treated to typical Romanian hospitality

Toasting Romania’s Centenary
Romania’s Great Union Day was a special occasion because this year the country marks the centenary of their modern State.
To toast the occasion, Romanian Ambassador Dan Mihalache hosted a reception which included an evocative photographic exhibition capturing scenes from a century ago, including the British-born soldier-queen Marie of Romania, whose brilliant diplomatic skills were key to the unification of Romanian provinces in the post-War negotiations.
“Romanian unification was not just an accident of history at the end of the First World War,” said the Ambassador in his Union Day address. “It was the final act in a long aspiration of the Romanian people to be united, made possible by visionary politicians.”
The Ambassador also thanked Britain for its role in assisting Romania as it emerged from the grip of communism in 1989 to join the Euro-Atlantic community two decades later.
After the formalities, guests enjoyed a virtuoso violin performance by Adriana Cristea, who played two pieces by Romanian composers Anghelus Dinicu and Ciprian Porumbescu. And of course, no celebration at One Belgrave Square is complete without a delicious Romanian spread.
Above Image: Romanian Ambassador Dan Mihalache gives his Union Day address to mark the centenary of the modern state of Romania
PHOTOS PIERRE DE VILLIERS