[Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade]

H.E. Ms. Nineta Bârbulescu arrived in Apia, on Wednesday, 6 March 2019. H.E to present her Letters of Credence to the Head of State, His Highness, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II. The Credentials Ceremony took place this morning at the Office of the Head of State in Vailele, making Ambassador Bârbulescu the first ever Ambassador of Romania to Samoa.

In her remarks during the Ceremony, Ambassador Bârbulescu highlighted Romania’s efforts in promoting bilateral relations with Samoa in the areas of institutional building, education, climate change, and renewable energy. The Ambassador also reflected on Romania’s ongoing developments as well as efforts in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals, including its very first Presidency of the European Union from January to June 2019.

His Highness accepted Ambassador Bârbulescu’s Letters of Credence and encouraged continued cooperation between Samoa and Romania in areas of mutual interest, particularly in peace and security, the rule of law, democracy, human rights and sustainable development. His Highness also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the extraordinary roles that women have played, and continue to play in building and developing our countries and in improving the lives of our people and communities, and wished Ambassador Bârbulescu and all the women of Romania and Samoa a happy International Women’s Day.

Samoa established diplomatic relations with Romania on 2 March 2006, and both countries have maintained friendly relations through close collaboration on issues of mutual interest and concern at the United Nations and other multilateral fora. Romania also provides development assistance to Samoa through the European Union.

Ambassador Bârbulescu was, until recently the Director for the OSCE, Asymmetrical Risks and Non-Proliferation Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. In her extensive diplomatic career, she has also worked as the Vice Chair and Member of the Confidentiality Commission of the OPCW from 2011-2012, and the Director General for Export Controls for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2013. Since 2015, she has held the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to Australia and New Zealand. Ambassador Bârbulescu has a Bachelor in Law, Magna Cum Laude from the University of Bucharest in Romania.

The Ambassador resides in Wellington and was accompanied by her son to the Credentials Ceremony.