Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Emilian ION, Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan called on Mohsin Jamil Baig, Editor-in-Chief, Daily Times and Online International News Network, on Monday. He said that he always tried to have good relations with the media adding that the Daily Times was his favourite newspaper.

The Ambassador congratulated Baig on becoming the Editor in Chief of the Daily Times . He said that the newspaper was the most trusted paper of Pakistan , which not only covered the government and the opposition maintaining a balance but also gave importance to the diplomatic community .

“I regularly read three English newspapers and the Daily Times is one of them”, he added. ION said that he had served as Romanian Ambassador to Pakistan for over seven and half years and he was the senior most ambassador of any European country here in Pakistan.

He also expressed satisfaction over the friendly and cordial relations between Pakistan and Romania, ever since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. He said Romania was the first country in the region, which recognised Pakistan and established diplomatic relations with her, more than five decades ago.

He said that the media, the government, the business community and the people of Pakistan provided support and cooperation which had extended during his stay here.

“My stay is unforgettable and quite productive for the relations between both the countries”, he commented.

He also said that due to the resemblance with Pushto speaking people here some people also called him a Pathan.

While speaking on bilateral trade he said that currently it was more than 300 million rupees, but there was a strong potential to increase it much more. He pointed out that Pakistan was a huge market adding that Pakistan was the king producer of mangoes and there was a great demand of Pakistani mangoes in Romania. Furthermore, he said that Romania helped Pakistan to build five cement factories.

He also shared an interesting anecdote that when he shifted to his official residence here, he was informed that the house was build with Kohat factory’s cement, adding that the factory was built with the help of Romania. ION also stated that Romanian culture was also rich like Pakistan,adding that 90 per cent people in Romania speak the Romanian language.

“There are 10 per cent people who speak Gypsy and German languages . Gypsies came to Romania from Mongolia. Most of them are linked to the music industry but now they are also taking active part in politics”, he explained.

ION also said that he introduced Romanian music, musicians and arranged performances here in Pakistan and at the same time Pakistani qawwali and music was also introduced to the Romanian audience.

He remarked that he travelled a lot in Pakistan and emphasised that the country had a rich and diverse cultural ethos.

He also remembered how his aircraft crashed in Naltar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, about 300 km north from Islamabad in May last year. Some diplomats and their family members also died in the crash but he escaped miraculously and got a new life after the accident.

Mohsin Jamil Baig thanked the Romanian Ambassador for visiting the head office of the Daily Times and Online International News Network. He said that he himself visited Romania 20 times adding that it was a beautiful country with hospitable people.

Mr Baig also pointed out that the Romanian culture was rich adding that there were some wordss that were common in Romanian and Pushto languages.

He briefed the Romanian Ambassador regarding the media industry in Pakistan. He told ION that Online News International had 18 offices in Pakistan and seven bureau offices abroad.

He also said that Online News International was the only private sector news agency of Pakistan which had collaborations with AFP and Reuters.

Before leaving ION said that it was a pleasure to meet Mohsin Jamil Baig and hoped that the visit would lead to more rapport in future.