Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
The Embassy of Romania in Nicosia hosted a special event on November 12, 2024, to celebrate Romania’s National Day and the strong ties between Romania and Cyprus. The reception marked 106 years since Romania’s Great Union, a historic day that honors the unification of all Romanians into a single, independent state.
From left to right: Lavinia Ochea, Deputy Head of Mission; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Republic of Cyprus Dan Mihalache; Koula Sofianou, Cyprus MFA Chief of State Protocol
Over 350 guests attended the event, including representatives from the diplomatic community, business leaders, academics, Cypriot government officials, and members of the Romanian diaspora in Cyprus. The festivities took place at Royal Hall in Nicosia and began with the playing of the national anthems of both Romania and Cyprus, setting the tone for a memorable evening.
Romanian Ambassador to Cyprus, alongside the Cypriot Minister of Energy, gave welcoming speeches highlighting the flourishing political and economic relations between the two nations. Their words of celebration were followed by a dinner and a lively folkloric performance by the Transylvania Ensemble, a group from Maramures County in Romania. The ensemble’s traditional Romanian songs and dances added a festive atmosphere to the evening, bringing a touch of Romanian culture to the heart of Nicosia.
From left to right: Ioana Constantinescu, Chief Commissioner; Lavinia Ochea, Deputy Head of Mission; Colonel Vasile Stanescu, Defense, Military, Naval and Air Force Attache
The reception was a beautiful display of the growing friendship and collaboration between Romania and Cyprus, as well as a heartfelt tribute to the historic importance of Romania’s National Day. The event underscored not only Romania’s rich cultural heritage but also its continued commitment to strengthening its relationship with Cyprus.
