00:00The collaboration which we saw today with the KSS and the Shakespeare plays, if you can talk about this, Shakespeare
00:09plays in Santele. What are your thoughts about that?
00:12We are very privileged at the Embassy of Romania that actually we could be a small part in this very
00:17important project.
00:18In fact, the University of Craiova in Romania and the International Shakespeare Festival in Craiova, which is taking place every
00:26two years, have awarded 20 students from Kalinga Institute of Technology and Social Studies and their teachers a scholarship for
00:34two months on Erasmus program, so they could go to Craiova in Romania and prepare for this premiere that has
00:42never happened before, that Shakespeare is played in so many languages, of course.
00:46And in Romania, we are proud to have this very important, the largest festival dedicated to Shakespeare, but never in
00:51a tribal language, never in Santele.
00:53Of course, we are proud that we also know it's the native language of the Honourable President of India and
00:58the students, when they just have returned from Romania two days ago before coming to perform for us today here,
01:05they have met the Honourable President, so we are convinced now she is also aware that Romania is committed to
01:11deepening the cultural ties between our countries.
01:14And this is actually one of these proofs. It's a European project, it's a Romanian festival, and it's an Indian
01:21initiative. It's all performed, adapted, prepared by students. It's very impressive. We are very grateful to the founder of the
01:29universities, Dr. Achuta Samanta, who has, through his vision, led this group to this point.
01:36So, I think this is just a very beautiful proof of the strengthening of our ties between Romania and India.
01:42Ambassador, if you're talking about the situation, we have the India, EU, FTA as well. What are your expectations? Where
01:49do you want it to be concluded?
01:52You also called it a little while back, Mother of All Deals. You also advocated that as well. How do
01:59you look at that, first of all, and any conclusion from your expectation?
02:02Of course, it has been and it has been a landmark in our relations between the European Union and India.
02:08We have a strategic partnership between these two regional blocks. It's one of the widest and most important such deals
02:14of its kind, because it unites two billion people as consumers, the largest, two very important markets on the world.
02:21And it will really enhance not only the trade in itself, which is obviously very, very welcome. We are looking
02:28forward to seeing some of the taxes and tariffs going down, so this will increase Romanian goods coming to the
02:34Indian market, Indian goods and services on European and Romanian market.
02:37So we are hopeful for more and more. Already we are seeing more interest and presence from Romanian companies coming
02:44to India to all exhibits and fairs in constructions, in food, in many, many fields.
02:50So they are preparing for the time that this will enter into force very soon. We hope end of this
02:55year, beginning of next year.
02:57Ambassador, are you talking about how to express the condolences on the tragic incident of the chapel in Maldenagar?
03:04Unfortunately, indeed, it has been a very, very tragic incident, and our foreign minister has expressed condolences to all the
03:10people of India, of course, to Dr. Jay Shankar, that she had just met a few days back in Cyprus,
03:15in the margins of a European meeting.
03:18And, of course, our heartfelt condolences go to all the victims, the families of the victims, and we wish to
03:24be the recovery to those injured.
03:26Ambassador, to the last question.
03:29The meeting of the Joint Committee on the Defense Corporation also happened.
03:33Regarding that, if you can share your thoughts, how do you look at the relationship going ahead and with this
03:38whole changing global order?
03:40How important is that? If you can share your thoughts?
03:41Of course, well, you see, I think, and I'm grateful for your questions.
03:44We were very well prepared because it actually shows the depth and it's around, it's a complete partnership between Romania
03:51and India, getting stronger every day.
03:52We talked about, you know, trade, economy, culture, and, of course, defense has its very important role.
03:58It's the second such meeting that happens between our ministries of defense.
04:03The first one has happened in Romania, now it was in New Delhi.
04:06And it actually shows, just as you're saying, against this very volatile global context we are all living in, with
04:12so many crises around us evolving, some closer to us, some closer to yours.
04:16And, of course, it shows how we are all interconnected and affected at different levels, but it all matters, and
04:21that's when we start looking for more partnerships.
04:24Of course, Romania is a member of you and NATO, we have strong alliances, partnerships around us, but in such
04:29moments we see how important it is to actually expand, to go and talk more and more with like-minded
04:35partners, such as India.
04:36Thank you so much for your time.
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