National Union for Romania's Progress Senator Cristian Diaconescu is, as of  24 January 2012, Romania's new Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is his second time he has held the position after a first mandate from December 2008 to October 2009.

He was was nominated as the Minister of Foreign Affairs by Prime Minister Emil Boc, the day after he sacked Teodor Baconschi for  statements he made regarding the protesters in Piata Universitatii.

The first time he was elected as Minister of Foreign Affairs he led negotiations for political treaties with the Ukraine and Russia, signed a series of agreements between Romania and the US and also led negotiations for the border demarcation agreement of the Black Sea continental shelf.

Diaconescu was previously a judge, a diplomat and later a politician. He has been a minister three times under two different prime ministers.

 Alex Camburu, alex.camburu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Cristian Diaconescu's website)