Moldova

THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA’S new Ambassador Her Excellency Mrs Angela Ponomariov arrived in London last September, accompanied by her husband and one of their two sons. “For the past three years, my family has been scattered across three countries: while I worked in Moldova, my husband and younger son lived in Germany, and my older son was at Vienna University. Rotating missions abroad are often a challenge for family members of diplomats,” she reflects. “But  in this case, London is the city that has reunited at least part of our family.”

Passionate about history, Mrs Ponomariov was delighted to present Credentials to Her Majesty. “To formalise my status as Ambassador in such a unique atmosphere, steeped in history, British style and traditions was very special.”

She admires the capital’s green infrastructure and diverse cultural life. “In a city like this, you can never become bored, maybe more often overwhelmed by the possibilities. I can easily confirm Samul Johnson’s words that ‘when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.’”

Mrs Ponomariov was a member of one of the first teams of Moldova’s Foreign Ministry, shortly after its creation. She declares: “Spanning almost a quarter of a century, my career has offered many lessons. The most important one is that sooner or later, you will be rewarded for dedication and hard work.” Postings to Germany, Latvia and Austria each left “a deep impression,” influencing Mrs Ponomariov’s growth as a diplomat. “There’s a definite distinction between working at the Foreign Ministry and at an embassy abroad. In the capital, you are not only a civil servant, mostly interacting with national institutions, but also a diplomat networking with colleagues accredited in the country. While you’re abroad, you are representing the homeland, developing contacts with officials and businessman, but also with the diplomatic community.”

She gained valuable experience during her previous position as Head of Western Europe, Central and Southeast Europe Division at Moldova’s Foreign Ministry. “My division was responsible for promoting the Republic of Moldova’s bilateral relations with most European states, including the UK, and this involved an intense and dynamic agenda. Dealing with many complex issues and managing a wide range of topics to develop bilateral dialogue between my country and its European partners was challenging. But it also offered the advantage of examining the issue of Moldovan – British relations more closely, preparing me for my post today.”

Mrs Ponomariov remarks that her position as Ambassador to the UK is “a great responsibility, because Great Britain is not only an important partner to the Republic of Moldova, but also one of the most influential actors on the international scene.” She adds: “I am pleased to note that our bilateral relations are developing quite dynamically, although of course, we have great potential to deepen them further.” In this sense, one of her main priorities is to promote the positive image of her country in order “to strengthen multi-dimensional cooperation” between Moldova and the UK. “I will make every effort to develop Moldovan-British bilateral political dialogue, intensify trade relations, as well as extend collaboration in fields of culture, education and technology.

“An important objective is to continue ongoing discussions with British partners in order to simplify the travel regime between our two countries. As a member of the Eastern Partnership that was the first to benefit from a liberalised visa-regime with the EU, the Republic of Moldova is keen to strengthen human contacts and facilitate the travel regime between our two countries.

“Another priority is to protect the interests and rights of Moldovan nationals living in the UK. I should highlight that the majority of these Moldovans are well integrated into British society, and the Embassy is in permanent contact with our communities here.”

On the subject of Brexit, Mrs Ponomariov notes, “We have reached a level of solid cooperation with the UK. Both countries support each other within the framework of international organisations like the UN, WTO and OPCW. Our bilateral dialogue was consolidated by the Moldovan Foreign Minister’s visit to London last year. We believe and hope that Brexit should not be an obstacle in terms of bilateral political interaction.” She continues: “We still need to see what kind of formula will be agreed between the UK and EU to be able to correctly assess the impact on our relations.”

On the subject of diplomatic challenges, the Ambassador refers to “the difficulties in the process of the Transnistrian conflict settlement and withdrawal of Russian military forces illegally deployed in the Eastern region of the country. International practice demonstrates that unresolved territorial conflicts consume a lot of diplomatic energy and efforts, and this case is no exception”. Nevertheless, Mrs Ponomariov looks with optimism to the country’s future, especially taking into account Moldova’s strong determination to pursue a European integration path.