Sarkozy’s visit to Romania by the NATO summit, priority for new ambassador to France

Romania should take advantage of its position as new member of the European Union, ambassador Teodor Baconschi said, one week after he was appointed the country’s ambassador to France.

There are several issues the two countries could try tackle together, the power market, policies regarding small and medium-sized companies or the foreign policy and the security strategy of the union. “Sarkozy is a man with strong personality and an ambitious reform program,” Baconschi said, adding he is keen on re-branding France, both locally and globally.

Relations with France have now entered a new era, he said, referring to the success of the Francophone summit, which took place in Bucharest, last year, in the fall, reuniting mayors and chiefs of states from francophone countries all over the world.

Baconschi has a long diplomatic background. He started out in diplomacy in 1997 when he was appointed the first ambassador to Vatican after the country renewed official relationship with the Holy See following the end communist regime when connections were interrupted.

Baconschi was recently a government secretary with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, followed by his latest post as presidential advisor on internal politics. He is also known for his studies in cultural anthropology.