A foreign ambassador to Romania and a Romanian senator have recently chosen to recite a poem of Romania's national poet Mihai Eminescu, the first was a gesture of friendship, and the second, to underline that sometimes foreigners love Romania and its culture more than Romanians themselves.

Romanian National Liberal Party (PNL) senator Tudor Chiuariu recently chose to recite some lines from What I wish you, sweet Romania (Ce-ti doresc eu tie, dulce Romanie) poem, written by famous national poet Mihai Eminescu, during the party’s Congress on Saturday (February 23).

His gesture came soon after and in response to the British Ambassador to Bucharest, Martin Harris (in picture), who also recited from the same Mihai Eminescu poem, in Romanian, during a recent gala where he was awarded for excellence in communication.

Tudor Chiuariu said he decided to recite from Mihai Eminescu’s poem because he was very impressed by the Ambassador’s “gesture of friendship”. "I was wondering at the same time how we have ended up in this situation where foreigners respect us more than we respect ourselves," said Chiuariu.  He added that badmouthing Romania, either at home or in Brussels has become too widespread a sport for many with narrow political interest, who only wish to keep their seats, against popular will.

Mihai Eminescu– 1850 – 1889 was one of the most important Romanian poets and writers and is considered Romania's national poet. Romanians celebrated 163 years since the birth of Mihai Eminescu on January 15 this year, which is also the National Culture Day in Romania. The British Ambassador marked Mihai Eminescu’s birthday by reading another one of his iconic poems, namely Return (Revedere).

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: British Embassy to Bucharest)