Zubair Qureshi
Acting Ambassador of Romania, Mr Eduard-Robert Preda paid rich tributes to the people of his country as well as those from the present-day regions of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for fighting bravely for the cause of freedom, peace and a life of dignity.
Around 60,000 of them (non-Romanian soldiers) in the World War I paid the ultimate price in defending the ideals of peace, freedom, liberty, dignity, democracy and fundamental human rights, said Mr Preda while addressing a reception that marked the 105 years of the Great Union, the birth of modern day Romania. “Today we pay tribute and honour them as much as we honour our heroes,” he said.
About the Romanians in their struggle for freedom, he said they laid the foundation of modern Romania and owing to their sacrifices the country today is placed in the midst of the great European family.
“National Day is a moment of remembrance of the historical act of December 1st, 1918, representing a fundamental landmark for all Romanians, at home and abroad, an opportunity to reaffirm the national consciousness and unity, the vision and fundamental objectives of the Romanian nation,” he said.
The reception was organized by the embassy and reflected the rich colours and culture of Romania. Ambassador Preda along with his spouse Mrs Angela Preda and senior members of the embassy received each guest with open arms and broad smiles.
Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis, Muhammad Jawad Sohrab Malik was the chief guest on the occasion while Federal Minister for Minority Affairs, Khalil George, parliamentarians, high ranking officials of the Foreign Ministry and the armed forces, business community representatives, ambassadors and diplomats especially European nations’ envoys and members of civil society attended the reception in good number.
They greeted Ambassador and Mrs Preda on the auspicious occasion and wished to see the Romania-Pakistan relations further grow. National anthems of the two countries were played on the occasion and a cake was also cut to celebrate the occasion.
Ambassador Preda said it was not a triumphal march, rather the people of his country faced potential threat to their very existence. However, they refused to deter and lived through wars, natural disasters, famine, periods of severe social tension and darkest political regimes. However, their determination, courage, capacity for sacrifice and will to live in freedom and peace made it possible for them to overcome all these difficult trials, despite almost unimaginable challenges, said the acting ambassador in his welcome address.
Ambassador Preda while expressing gratitude to the guests held Romania like other European nations held in high esteem over 1 million soldiers from South Asia, particularly from the regions of Punjab, KP and others, who fought courageously and heroically in different battlefields of the WWI.
