Yesterday, Tuesday, the inauguration of the outdoor exhibition The Romania-Spain Relationship Reflected in the Press. A Bilateral Historical Perspective took place at the Paseo de Coches in the Retiro Park of Madrid, with which the Romanian Embassy wishes to commemorate 145 years of diplomatic relations with Spain.
The event was attended by the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the Romanian Embassy, Raluca Mihaila; the Secretary of State for the European Union of Spain, Fernando Sampedro, and the special visit of the Secretary of State for European Affairs, the Middle East, and Africa of the Romanian government, Clara Staicu.
Raluca Mihaila highlighted in her speech that since the beginning of these bilateral relations, “generations have patiently built a relationship based on dialogue, mutual respect, trust, and, ultimately, friendship. The exhibition we inaugurate today tells this story in a unique way, not through agreements or diplomatic documents, but through the eyes of the press. The media are, in many ways, the living memory of a society.”
“The idea for this public exhibition was born a year ago, coming from a simple belief that the history of diplomacy should not remain confined to archives. It should be shared with the public, because it does not only belong to institutions, but also to the people whose lives have changed. By bringing this exhibition to El Retiro, the heart of Madrid, we wanted to celebrate the relations between Romania and Spain in an open and accessible way, inviting every visitor to discover a story of friendship, dialogue, and common European values. Because history becomes something truly meaningful when it is shared, understood, and passed on to future generations,” emphasized the Romanian diplomat.
The exhibition is structured around 20 thematic panels, guiding visitors through the events that have shaped relations between the two countries. They will discover historical documents illustrating the beginnings of diplomatic relations reflected by the press, articles dedicated to political, economic, and cultural cooperation, Romania’s accession to the European Union and NATO, and the extraordinary contribution of the Romanian community in Spain. “This special place is dedicated to culture,” noted Raluca Mihaila, “because the closeness between our peoples has been carried out by numerous artists, writers, musicians, and intellectuals, whose role has been to open the borders that remain between our countries. The Romanian language is the only Latin language spoken in Western Europe.”
Next, the Secretary of State for European Affairs, the Middle East, and Africa of the Romanian government, Clara Staicu, stated: “This anniversary is not only an opportunity to remember history, but also an opportunity to think about what we build together and, especially, it is a good opportunity to look at what we want to build from now on and how we see the world moving forward. Because 145 years ago, when Romania and Spain established diplomatic relations, things were different. It was a different world. And now, many things have happened since then and it is our duty to find the best way through dialogue, respect, and the will to cooperate to move these relations forward for the next 150 years.”
“Today, Romania and Spain are strategic partners and we are working very closely in NATO and the European Union. We share democratic values. We share the conviction that the great challenges of our time can only be resolved together through peaceful means. Strategic coordination between us is more important than ever. We are allies and we count on each other. Very recently, Spain responded affirmatively when Romania requested support on our territory, as it was violated by the Russian drone,” stated the Romanian Secretary of State.
“The exhibition,” continued Clara Staicu, “remembers not only events but also hopes, concerns, and aspirations of our societies and is a testament to the evolution of Romania. Romania and Spain, we should continue to shape the next chapter of this relationship, with the same ambition and confidence for the benefit of our citizens and Europe in general.”
After thanking the Romanian Embassy and the Romanian Cultural Institute for the preparation of this exhibition, the Secretary of State for the European Union of Spain, Fernando Sampedro, noted that “the inauguration of this exhibition takes place in a particularly significant year for Spain, a year in which we are celebrating 40 years of Spain in the European Union, within the framework of 50 years of Spain in freedom, and as my dear colleague, my friend Clara Staicu, said, because democracy and Europe have always gone hand in hand and remind us of the importance of that dialogue between nations, of European integration, as instruments of peace, prosperity, and coexistence between our peoples.”
The Secretary of State indicated that “Spain has always stood by our Romanian friends and of course whenever there has been any threat, as the Secretary of State recalled, during our last European presidency we pushed with determination for the full incorporation of Romania and also Bulgaria into the Schengen area, which has been completed and we celebrate that it is so and that it favors mobility between our countries from January 2025 and in the defense of European security always especially important but even more so since the Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
Next, Fernando Sampedro remembered “the men and women of the Armed Forces stationed in Romanian territory who are part of the approximately 2,500 military personnel that Spain has deployed in the Baltics, in Romania, and in Slovakia, in the Marine Infantry contingent and in NATO Air Police missions reported in the Black Sea.”
“I conclude by highlighting that at the moment when the European Union is facing significant challenges related to security, competitiveness, enlargement, and the defense of its democratic values, the relationship between Spain and Romania demonstrates the strength of a common project based on trust, solidarity, and the will to move forward together,” concluded Fernando Sampedro in his speech.
