Dan Stoenescu

Dan Stoenescu
Minister – Delegate for Relations with Romanians Abroad
Assumed office
17 November 2015
President Klaus Iohannis
Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș
Preceded by Angel Tîlvăr
Personal details
Born (1980-11-04) 4 November 1980
Constanța, Romania
Political party Independent
Alma mater Austin College
University of Warwick
University of Bucharest

Dan Stoenescu (born November 4, 1980) is a Romanian career diplomat, political scientist, journalist, and essayist. He was a Minister in the Romanian government of technocrats, under Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos. Throughout his career, he manifested a steady interest in the protection of rights of the Romanian diaspora[1] and in the preservation of the language, culture and civilization of ethnic Romanians abroad.[2] Dan Stoenescu is fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, English, Portuguese, Romanian, and has a basic knowledge of Arabic.

Education

He received a bachelor of arts degree in international studies from Austin College, in Sherman, Texas, in 2003,[3] a master of arts degree in globalization and development from Warwick University in the UK in 2005, a graduate diploma in forced migration and refugee studies from the American University in Cairo in 2006, and a PhD in political science from the University of Bucharest in 2009, where he wrote his dissertation on modern Arab nationalism and Islamic identity after 1987. He also attended courses at the European Security and Defence College[4] in Brussels, Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael[5] in the Hague, Matías Romero Institute[6] in Mexico City and Saifi Institute[7] for Arabic Language in Beirut.

Career

Stoenescu was Minister-delegate for Romanians abroad from 17 November 2015 to 7 July 2016, in the government of technocrats, led by Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos. Previously, he had diplomatic postings in Madrid [8] and Beirut [9] and was president of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture) in Lebanon for two consecutive mandates [10] as a representative of the Romanian Cultural Institute. Between 2009 and 2010 he worked in the Department on Policies for the Relationship with Romanians Abroad.[11] Starting with September 2015 he was responsible for the Romanian schools in Spain as First Secretary at the Romanian Embassy in Spain.[12]

Dan Stoenescu volunteering with Sudanese refugees at the African Hope School in Cairo, Egypt (2002)

He previously lived in Egypt when he worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) offices in Cairo. Dan Stoenescu also worked as a journalist for various newspapers and magazines in Romania,[13] United States, United Kingdom, Egypt, Lebanon,[14] and the Republic of Moldova. He was involved in Egypt with non-governmental organizations such as African Hope,[15] in the United States he volunteered for the Center for the Survivors of Torture as well as in Central America for El Salvador’s Siglo XXIII.

Between 2005 and 2009 he was a lecturer in the political science department at the University of Bucharest,[16] and thereafter at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute.[17]

In 2000, he established the Worldwide Romanians Youth League (Liga Tinerilor Români de Pretutindeni) [18] and later on the Center for Democratic Education Romania.[19] Among many academic honors and distinctions he was awarded the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, Ford Foundation scholarship, First Phi Theta Kappa All-California Academic Team, Presbyterian Church USA Samuel Roberson award, and distinctions from California governor Gray Davis, assembly member Wilma Chan, and senator Don Perata.[20]

Ministerial Mandate (2015-2016)

Meeting of Minister delegate Dan Stoenescu with Pope Francis

The mandate of the minister delegate brought many changes and innovations in terms of political and diplomatic measures and demarches in the relation of the Romanian government with the Romanian communities abroad. Amongst the first measures taken in the beginning of the mandate were transparency initiatives such as publication of the financed projects and the establishment of an online platform for projects.[21] In order to consolidate the cultural links between Romania and its kin ethnic groups in the near abroad, a series of demarches were started in order to establish Romanian Information Centers in Bălți (Republic of Moldova),[22]Ismail (Ukraine) [23] and Solotvino (Ukraine).[24]

Furthermore, a project called the Common Communication Space Romania – Republic of Moldova was initiated in order to support cooperation and convergence projects between press institutions, civil society and governmental institutions on a bilateral level. As part of this strategic project it was established the Romania – Republic of Moldova Mass media Consultative Council – a consultation forum for the civil society, management representatives of press institutions and journalists from both states to harmonize and integrate media laws and public policies in the area of mass media communication.[25]

Minister delegate Dan Stoenescu commemorating the Massacre of Fântâna Albă, Northern Bukovina (Ukraine)

Another innovative measure was the launching of the AgroDiaspora program meant to inform Romanians living abroad about the investment opportunities in the Romanian agriculture available through accessing European funds.[26] Also a project called "Romanians Entrepreneurs Abroad" was started to support the development of entrepreneurial abilities among Romanians living abroad.[27]

During his mandate he always stressed the importance of implementing measures that fight against the artificial division of Romanian communities between Romanians and Moldovans,[28] Romanians and Vlachs,[29] Romanians and Aromanians.[30]

For a stronger common inter-institutional demarche in support of Romanian communities, the minister delegate always brought along during his visits abroad representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Commissions for Romanians Abroad in the Romanian Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of Romania as well as of other ministries.[31] The minister delegate was the first high-ranking official member of the Dacian Cioloș government to visit the Republic of Moldova[32] In the beginning of March 2016, the minister delegate went on a diplomatic mission to Malaysia as special envoy of President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș to appeal to the Malaysian authorities to pardon and commute the capital punishment for the Romanian inmate Ionut Gologan.[33]

In the perspective of the 2016 Parliamentary elections, he launched together with the Electoral Permanent Authority a widespread campaign to inform Romanians living abroad about the legislative changes regarding the new possibility of voting by mail and organizing new voting sections in ones area of residence.[34]

Moreover, he initiated a legislative modification of Law no.321/2006 to ensure greater transparency on non-refundable financing for programs, projects and activities in support of Romanian communities living abroad.[35]

Published works

References

  1. ↑ La Vanguardia. Retrieved on March 10, 2010.
  2. ↑ Romanian Global News rgnpress.ro. Retrieved on January 6, 2014.
  3. ↑ Fitzgerald, Wade. (2010-02-04) Austin College Professors Discuss History of Haiti, Relief Efforts | Austin College. Austincollege.edu. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  4. ↑ European Security and Defence College. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  5. ↑ Netherlands Instititute of International Relations Clingendael. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  6. ↑ Instituto Matías Romero. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  7. ↑ Saifi Institute for Arabic Language. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  8. ↑ Ambasada României la Madrid. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ Ambasada României la Beirut. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  10. ↑ Agenția Națională de Presă AGERPRES. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Dan STOENESCU | Ministry of Foreign Affairs". www.mae.ro. Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  12. ↑ "Dan Stoenescu's CV" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Lebanonwire, Live News Direct From Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanonwire.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Romanian student Daniel Stoenescu volunteered in El Salvador and Egypt". Abroadview.org. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Dan Stoenscu's CV" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-01-19.
  17. ↑ Institutul Diplomatic Român. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  18. ↑ Camera Deputaților. Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
  19. ↑
  20. ↑ Dan Stoenescu. Worldsecuritynetwork.com. Retrieved on January 6, 2012.
  21. ↑ Jurnal Românesc. Retrieved on July 5, 2016.
  22. ↑ Tribuna, DAN STOENESCU: I’M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ROMANIAN IDENTITY IN MOLDOVA. Tribuna.md. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  23. ↑ Agerpres, MAE: Minister Dan Stoenescu participates in protocol signing for setup of Romanian Information Centre in Balti. Agerpres. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  24. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Mesajul ministrului delegat pentru relațiile cu românii de pretutindeni, Dan Stoenescu, la încheierea mandatului. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  25. ↑ Balkan Insight, Romania to Boost Media Presence in Moldova. Balkan Insight. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  26. ↑ Agerpres, MAE: DPRRP inaugurated AgroDiaspora information programme for Romanians abroad. Agerpres. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  27. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, The launch of the scholarship programme for online education "Romanian entrepreneurs abroad". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  28. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Minister Delegate for Relations with Romanians Abroad Dan Stoenescu meets with Micheil Saakashvili, Governor of Odessa Oblast. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  29. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Meeting between Minister Delegate for Relations with Romanians Abroad Dan Stoenescu with the President of the Romanian Academy. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  30. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Meeting between Minister Delegate for Relations with Romanians Abroad Dan Stoenescu with the President of the Romanian Academy. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  31. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Minister Delegate for Relations with Romanians Abroad Dan Stoenescu meets with Micheil Saakashvili, Governor of Odessa Oblast. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  32. ↑ Agerspres, Foreign Ministry's Stoenescu: Romania interested in strengthening Moldova's stability, maintaining its European path. Agerpres. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  33. ↑ Nine O’clock, Minister-delegate Stoenescu visits Romanians detained in Malaysia. Nine O’clock. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  34. ↑ Nine O’clock, http://www.nineoclock.ro/romanians-abroad-to-register-if-they-want-to-vote-by-mail-in-general-election/ Romanians abroad to register if they want to vote by mail in general election. Nine O’clock. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
  35. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Mesajul ministrului delegat pentru relațiile cu românii de pretutindeni, Dan Stoenescu, la încheierea mandatului. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. Retrieved on July 10, 2016.
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