Emil Constantinescu, President of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization and former President of Romania between 1996-2000, participated on Monday, September 30th, 2019, together with other former and current heads of state, to the funeral of French President Jacques Chirac.
The personality of the deceased left a powerful imprint on the French and global political stage during the last part of the previous century and the first decade of this one. In his lengthy political career, he took over important positions, such as Secretary of State and Minister (1967-1974), Prime-minister (1974-1976 and 1986-1988), Mayor of Paris for 18 years (1977-1995), ending by the highest position in the country – that of President of the French Republic for two mandates (1995-2007). He played an immense role in the construction of the European Union, the French accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and enhanced the French stance within the North-Atlantic Alliance.
A great friend to our country and to Emil Constantinescu, President Jacques Chirac was an energetic supporter of Romania’s accession to NATO and European Union integration.
5th February 1997, Emil Constantinescu and Jaques Chirac at the Elysée Palace
18th November 1999, OSCE Summit in Istanbul
Emil Constantinescu și Bill Clinton intră împreună în Biserica Saint Sulpice pentru a-i aduce un ultim omagiu lui Jaques Chirac
After the funeral, President Emmanuel Macron invited the leaders present to the Elysée Palace
Photo sources : Emil Constantinescu’s personal archive, Paris Match. AFP.
