Ammon News - AMMAN - Romanian Ambassador to Jordan Radu Onofrei on Tuesday launched a Jordanian-Romanian civic partnership that seeks to strengthen ties between the two countries.

The partnership will bring together individuals and non-governmental organisations. Its nucleus will be formed by the Jordanian Romanian Friendship Association, the Jordanian Romanian Youth Forum and the club of Jordanian graduates from Romanian universities, with individuals expected to participate and contribute.

The ambassador said that the civic partnership is meant to foster better understanding between the peoples of the two countries that already have strong political and economic ties.

The event was part of celebrations marking Romania's national day, which is observed on December 1, and to mark 20 years since a democratic regime replaced a dictatorial system in this East European country.

Among activities marking the events, were a movie screening, the presentation of a short documentary on Romania, an exhibition of paintings and speeches by several Jordanians figures.

Ahmad Bashabsheh, head of Jordanian Romanian Parliamentary Friendship Committee, highlighted the distinguished ties between the two countries, underlining the importance of further cooperation.

Mentioning the fields of cooperation between Jordan and Romania, whose diplomatic relations were established in 1970, Onofrei said Romania, who has been a NATO member since 2004 and acceded to the EU in 2007, can be a gateway for Jordan towards Europe.

In April, His Majesty King Abdullah visited Romania and discussed with Romanian President Traian Basescu mechanisms to bolster bilateral ties in different fields, developments in the Middle East and efforts to bring about peace in the region. (Mohammad Ghazal/ Jordan Times)

* Photo: Romanian Ambassador Radu Onofrei announces the launch of a Jordanian-Romanian civic partnership on Tuesday/ by Nader Daoud)