On 17 November 2020, Dr. Vasile Soare, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Russian Federation, visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research on the completion of his diplomatic mission. The Ambassador arrived in Dubna accompanied by the Counsellor on Education and Science, Laurenţiu Constantiniu. Professor Gheorghe Adam, the Head of the Romanian national group in JINR during 2005 – January 2019, accompanied the high-level delegation in the Joint Institute.

At the JINR Directorate, Dr. Vasile Soare was warmly greeted by JINR Director, Academician V. A. Matveev, First Vice-Director Academician G. V. Trubnikov and Vice-Director R. Lednický. The meeting was also attended by Head of the International Relations Department D.V. Kamanin, LIT Director V.V. Korenkov, FLNR Deputy Scientific Leader M.G. Itkis and leading Romanian scientists working at JINR: FLNP Deputy Director O. Kulikov and LIT Chief Researcher Gh. Adam.

During the meeting, the JINR leadership expressed gratitude to Vasile Soare for his personal support of the scientific cooperation between Romania and JINR during his term of office as the Ambassador of Romania. The considerable contribution of Romania to the establishment and development of the Joint Institute was highlighted. The current high level of the Romania-JINR cooperation, as well as the wide opportunities for its further enhancement were emphasized. In particular, the areas of high performance and distributed computing, as well as the joint participation in the international scientific project Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI-NP), implemented in Romania, were stressed as promising.

Vasile Soare stressed that the 65 years long cooperation with JINR has played a very important role in the development of the physics research in Romania. He also highly appreciated the efforts of the JINR Directorate in attracting young Romanian scientists to joint scientific work. The Ambassador noted the readiness of the Romanian side to participate in informing the European countries about the JINR activities, noting the importance of maintaining continuous bilateral ties regardless of the political conjuncture.

At the end of the meeting, Victor Matveev presented to Ambassador Vasile Soare a congratulatory address on the occasion of the Romanian National Great Union Day and invited him to visit JINR again in the future. A congratulatory address from the JINR Directorate on the Romanian National Day was also handed over to the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis.

During the visit, Vasile Soare also met, in the Conference Hall of the JINR Scientists’ Club, members of the Romanian national group in JINR, in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

In the final interview for representatives of the JINR media, Vasile Soare spoke about the cooperation with JINR and the impressions of the meeting with Romanian staff in JINR: “My seven-year diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation will be soon completed. One of my first official visits was done to the Joint Institute in Dubna. The scientific cooperation of the Russian Federation and Romania is long-term and fruitful, both parties were among JINR founding countries. Over the years, many Romanian scientists have made significant contributions to the establishment and development of the Institute, which were essential to its achievements. An instance is the synthesis of element 105 of the D.Mendeleev Periodic Table. I should like to note the contribution of the Romanian chemist Olimpiu Constantinescu in determining its existence, made during his work in Dubna. He and other bright Romanian scientists have made a huge contribution to the strengthening of scientific relations between Romania and Russia, which were established here, at JINR. Knowing about this rich scientific past, I, as a diplomat, have set myself the task to make everything possible to support and develop these ties. Furthermore, I saw my goal in supporting the Romanian national group in JINR, about 20 people living and working in Dubna on a long-term basis. I was also trying to promote the development of our contacts at the official level. I should remind that JINR Days were organized in Bucharest a few years ago and then a session of the JINR Committee of Plenipotentiaries was held there for the first time.

I would like to note that during these seven years, JINR has been one of the institutions with which close and even friendly contacts have been maintained. Dubna itself has become dear to me for its unique spirit and atmosphere, you always feel special here. Dubna was the only place, apart from the Embassy, where we officially organized celebrations of the Romanian National Day. We have held such events many times. Of course, the events were organized for the entire city, but we especially wanted to support our researchers, who year after year, dedicate their lives to the service of science and the Institute. I wanted to provide this support in every possible way, so throughout my diplomatic mission I tried to be in direct contact with JINR.

Today, I had a meeting with JINR employees from Romania and I was very glad to meet new, young scientists starting their scientific careers here, including on innovative topics. On the basis of the results got in Dubna, they defend PhD theses in Romania and continue the work at JINR. This demonstrates that we are moving forward in terms of cooperation development, that we have good prospects.

I would like also to note that the today meeting with the Romanian national group in JINR had a special emotional connotation. Since the beginning of my work in Russia, a national Romanian community was being created, and the Dubna group became its integral part and a permanent participant to events organized by the Romanian Embassy on national holidays. These holidays, which we remember from our childhood, give people an opportunity to feel like they are at home. Such emotional exchange makes the relationship special therefore, completing my mission, I, of course, could not help but say goodbye to those with whom, in addition to work, it was pleasant and valuable also to communicate. JINR is a place of Russia I have established strong ties with, both official and friendly. It is very precious and it will leave a lasting mark in memory and, especially, in the soul, where there is now a special place for the beloved Dubna.”

Photos by Elena Puzynina