Reopening the Doors in Washington and Brussels: An Interview with Nicolae Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Republic of Moldova

Nicolae “Nicu” Popescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Republic of Moldova

Nicolae “Nicu” Popescu was born on April 25, 1981 in Chişinău, Republic of Moldova. He studies at the State Institute of International Relations in Moscow, the Russian Federation (degree in political science and international relations, 2002) and the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary (master’s degree in international relations and European studies, 2003; Ph.D. in political science magna cum laude, 2009).

He works as a researcher (the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels, Belgium, 2005–2007), program and research manager (the European Council on foreign Relations/ECFR Office in London, 2007–2009, 2011–2012), advisor on Foreign Policy and European Integration (the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Republic of Moldova, 2010, 2011–2012), senior analyst (the European Union Institute for Security Studies, 2013–2016), university lecturer (Institute of Political Studies in Paris, France, 2016–2019), program director ( “Extended Europe”, European Council for External Relations, 2018–2019).

Nicu Popescu has been appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Republic of Moldova (June 8, 2019 — to present).

During the period of September 18 to 19, 2019, a delegation of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, led by the Prime Minister Maia Sandu, paid a visit to the United States. Minister Nicu Popescu was a delegation member. On September 18, 2019, the delegation met with the Diaspora representatives in Washington, DC at the Rayburn House Office Building. At the end of that meeting, Minister Nicu Popescu accepted to grant me an exclusive interview.

1. Minister Nicu Popescu, you are the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Republic of Moldova. What are the goals of your visit to the United States?

We have a strategic partnership with the United States. We have an excellent relationship, we have an enormous support from the United States, both politically and economically, financially, educationally, and we want to develop this relationship. Previously, Moldova and the United States went through some stages, some more difficult relations. Last year the USAID, the American Agency for Assistance, suspended or froze several assistance projects for Moldova. The European Union suspended the assistance provided to Moldova last year. We are now in a position to reopen the doors in Washington, Brussels and this visit is part of these diplomatic efforts to reconnect Republic of Moldova to the Western space.

2. Very encouraging. Thank you. What are the challenges that Republic of Moldova is now facing in your field of activity?

So, my field of activity is not isolated from other fields. The main challenge facing the Republic of Moldova is corruption, a high degree of corruption that creates economic, demographic, and geopolitical risks. Because we know well that some corrupt institutions are also open to adverse geopolitical influences. And, in this regard, corruption is the main scourge of Republic of Moldova. And diplomatically, obviously, we are in a region where there are several geo-political cleavages that we must manage.

3. Last question, Mr. Minister, Sir. How do you see, in your opinion, the role of Romania in fulfilling the goals of the Republic of Moldova?

We have an excellent relationship with Romania; it is the largest trading partner. 27 percent of Moldova’s exports go to Romania. Romania supports us also bilaterally. We have several infrastructure interconnection projects. Our goal, the aim of the Chişinău government is to move, not just to the language, culture and history community with Romania, but to develop an infrastructure community. Romania is building a new gas pipeline in the Republic of Moldova. We want the construction of several bridges. We want to connect the Republic of Moldova to the Union Highway, which is being built. So, we have a lot of projects that target concrete benefits for the citizens on both sides of the Prut River and, ultimately, aim at reconnecting the Republic of Moldova to the European space through Romania and with Romania.

4. Thank you, Minister.

Thank you.

NOTE — Versions of the article were published in:

CARIBBEAN NEWS GLOBAL (Brooklyn/New York City, New York) [+ views, comments]

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INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATIVE (Phoenix, Arizona) [ comments]

Doors Reopening in Washington and Brussels: An Interview with Nicolae Popescu, Minister of Foreign…

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MARIANAS VARIETY (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) [4 comments]

Right Direction | About doors reopening in Washington and Brussels: An interview with Nicolae…

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MEDIUM (San Francisco, California) [100+ views; 4 comments; 50+ likes]

Reopening the Doors in Washington and Brussels: An Interview with Nicolae Popescu, Minister of…

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SAIPAN TRIBUNE (Garapan/Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) [ comments]

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and featured in:

320ro.com (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom) [ comments]

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ACCENT (Toronto, Canada) [in Romanian] [ comments]

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ACTIVE BOARD

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AFRO-CONSCIOUS MEDIA (Canada; Long Beach, California) [ comments]

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ALTERNATIVA/THE ALTERNATIVE (Toronto, Canada) (_________ 2018) [in Romanian] [NOTE = scroll down on the journal’s home page to get the article and then press OPEN on the article]

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ARMONIA/THE HARMONY (Hickory/Charlotte, North Carolina) [in Romanian] [4 comments]

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ARMONIA MAGAZINE/THE HARMONY MAGAZINE (Hickory/Charlotte, North Carolina) [in Romanian] [ comments]

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BLUNT FORCE TRUTH (Detroit, Michigan) [ comments]

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BURNING PLATFORM [ comments]

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CARIBBEAN POST (Santiago, Dominican Republic) [ comments]

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CLICK ROMANIA (London, United Kingdom) [in Romanian] [4 comments]

Ministrul Afacerilor Externe şi Integrării Europene al Republicii Moldova Nicolae Popescu despre…

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CURENTUL/THE CURRENT (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [4 comments]

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CURENTUL INTERNAŢIONAL/THE INTERNATIONAL CURRENT (Sterling Heights/Detroit, Michigan) [in Romanian] [4 comments]

Redeschiderea uşilor la Bruxelles şi Washington (un interviu cu Nicolae Popescu, ministru al…

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FIWEH (Okinawa, Japan) [ comments]

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FREE REPUBLIC (Fresno, California) [ comments]

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GÂNDACUL DE COLORADO/THE COLORADO BEETLE (Estes Park/Denver, Colorado) [in Romanian] [200+ views; comments]

Redeschiderea uşilor la Washington şi Bruxelles: Interviu cu Nicolae Popescu, ministru al…

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GOP BRIEFING ROOM [ + views; comments]

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JURNAL DE CHIŞINĂU/CHIŞINĂU JOURNAL (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]

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LUCIANNE.COM (Cliffside Park, New Jersey) [ + comments]

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LUMEA ROMÂNEASCĂ/THE ROMANIAN WORLD (Grand Rapids, Michigan) [in Romanian]

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MENAFN (Amman, Jordan)

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MERIDIANUL ROMÂNESC/THE ROMANIAN MERIDIAN (Santa Clarita/Los Angeles, California) [in Romanian]

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MEXICAN OCCUPATION

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MIORIŢA USA (Sacramento, California) [in Romanian]

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MOLDOVA9/NEW MOLDOVA (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]

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MOLDOVA ŞTIRI/MOLDOVA NEWS (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] (300+ views; comments]

INTERVIU realizat de Tiberiu Dianu (Washington)// Ministrul Afacerilor Externe și Integrării…

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MORNING IN ARIZONA [ comments]

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NAŢIUNEA/THE NATION (Bucharest, Romania) [in Romanian] [ comments]

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NEW YORK MAGAZIN/NEW YORK MAGAZINE (New York City, New York) [in Romanian] [4 comments]

Comunitatea de infrastructură dintre Republica Moldova şi România (interviu cu Nicolae Popescu…

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OBSERVATORUL/THE OBSERVER (Toronto, Canada) [in Romanian]

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OCCIDENTUL ROMÂNESC/ROMANIAN WEST (Madrid, Spain)

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OFICIAL/OFFICIAL (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]

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PARADIGMS AND DEMOGRAPHICS (Cleveland, Ohio) [ comments]

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PROTECTORS OF LIBERTY (Mount Pleasant, Michigan) [ comments]

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QOSHE (Netherlands & Turkey)

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QWIKET (Kingston, New York) [ comments]

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ROMANIA JOURNAL (Bucharest, Romania) [1,000+ views; 4 comments]

Moldovan FM: Corruption, the main challenge the R. of Moldova is facing

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ROMANIAN TIMES (Portland, Oregon) [in Romanian]

Politica de redeschidere a uşilor la Washington şi Bruxelles - Romanian Times

and also

ROMANIAN TIMES (Portland, Oregon) (print edition, p. 15) [in Romanian]

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SAVE AMERICA FOUNDATION (Clearwater, Florida)

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TAPATALK (Santa Monica/Los Angeles, California) [ comments]

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TIMP ROMÂNESC/ROMANIAN TIME (Bucharest, Romania) [in Romanian] [ comments]

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TRIBUNA/THE TRIBUNE (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [4 comments]

About Doors Reopening in Washington and Brussels - interview with Nicolae Popescu, Minister of…

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TRIBUNA/THE TRIBUNE (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]

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and

TRIBUNA ROMÂNEASCĂ/ROMANIAN TRIBUNE (Chicago, Illinois) [in Romanian] [4 comments]

Ministrul Nicolae Popescu: „Principala sfidare cu care se ciocneşte Republica Moldova este…

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TRULY TIMES [ + views, comments]

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TRUMP’S MINUTEMEN (Fort Worth, Texas)

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UNIMEDIA (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ + views, comments]

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US POLITICS 10z [ comments]

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USF NEWS (Tampa, Florida)

Corruption, the main challenge the R. of Moldova is facing - The Romania Journal - World's Breaking…

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ZIARUL DE GARDĂ/THE GUARD NEWSPAPER (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian]

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and referenced in:

CENTRUL DE PRESĂ — PRESSPEDIA/THE PRESS CENTER — PRESSPEDIA (Bucharest, Romania) [in Romanian] [+ views]

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CURENTUL INTERNAŢIONAL/INTERNATIONAL CURRENT — FACEBOOK (Sterling Heights/Detroit, Michigan) [in Romanian]

Curentul International Fan Page

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HUMAN RIGHTS QUARTERLY (Cincinnati, Ohio)

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INFOPRUT (Bucharest, Romania) [comments]

Nicu Popescu: „Scopul guvernării de la Chișinău este să nu ne limităm doar la comunitatea de limbă…

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LIBERAL FORUM

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MUCK RACK (New York, New York)

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OBAMA LIES

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PRESS RUSH (Turku, Finland)

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ZENITH NEWS (Duluth, Minnesota)

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NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS = 18

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