Romanian diplomat to take over high NATO position

In recognition, perhaps, of Bucharests contribution to NATO, a Romanian took over the chairmanship of an important NATO department on Wednesday.

Florentin Căpitănescu, 25.09.2013, 13:40

Romania’s contribution to NATO has just acquired a new dimension with the appointment of Sorin Ducaru as the head of an important department — the Emerging Security Challenges Division. The choice is no surprise if we look at Ducaru’s career. He has been the head of the Permanent Mission of Romania to NATO for the last 7 years and has also served as Romania’s ambassador to the US and the United Nations. Here’s Sorin Ducaru himself speaking about the history and activity of the Emerging Security Challenges Division.

Sorin Ducaru: “The division handles emerging security risks. It was created as a result of the debates on the new strategic concept and aims to tackle the security challenges of the 21st century, such as cyber defence, the fight against terrorism, energy security, NATO’s nuclear policy and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

Mr Ducaru says the main goal of his tenure will be to find answers to the new threats facing NATO member states, including Romania. He also talked about Bucharest’s relationship with the North Atlantic Alliance ahead of the 10th anniversary next year of Romania’s entry into NATO.

Sorin Ducaru: “As far its relationship with NATO is concerned, Romania is very much focused on the future. Next year it will be 10 years since this country became a NATO member. We have always believed it is important to be an active contributor to the debates concerning the new threats and to place ourselves in a position allowing us to play a distinct role in finding a solution to these threats, as we have done in the area of missile defence, an emerging threat which will become an even bigger threat in the future.”

With this new appointment, Sorian Ducaru becomes the second Romanian to hold a high position within NATO after Oana Lungescu, who has been a NATO spokeswoman since 2010.