Bucarest
Manuscrit, non publié à l’époque. Seul le prononcé fait foi. Les notes de travail ont été retirées.
Discours prononcé en anglais. Texte original, non traduit.
Mr President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for the warm welcome in Romania, and here at Cotroceni Palace.
Since arriving yesterday evening, I have already had the opportunity to take a short walk in the center of Bucharest. I was impressed by the city’s architectural diversity, and the historically important places I have seen, such as the Piața Revoluției.
I enjoyed a presentation on the recent history of Romanian art at the «Muzeul de Artă Recentă», where I was also able to speak with contemporary artists.
Indeed, culture is part of my ministerial portfolio.
In the world of art, there have always been ties between our two countries. Take Tristan Tzara, co-founder of Dadaism, one of the most significant movements in the history of art in the twentieth century. Or Daniel Spoerri, one of the most important Swiss artists, born in Galați.
I hope that cultural exchanges will further deepen in future.
Mr President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a privilege to visit your country in the year in which it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Great Union of 1918.
Looking ahead, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Romania much success during its first presidency of the EU Council next year.
I hope, Mr. President, that the summit in your hometown of Sibiu will be a milestone in the future development of the European Union.
Switzerland values this longstanding friendship with Romania and looks forward to our continued partnership.
I raise my glass to our continuing collaboration and to a promising future for our two countries and the international community as a whole.
In the year of the ‘Centenar’ I wish Romania and all its citizens ‘La mulți ani’.