Teodor Baconschi
Encyclopedia
Teodor Baconschi (born 14 February 1963), is a Romania
n politician
. He is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania since December 2009.
to the poet Anatol E. Baconsky
and his wife Clara. He graduated from the Theological Institute of the University of Bucharest
in 1985, received a Diplôme d'études approfondies (Master of Advanced Studies) at the Université de Paris IV-Sorbonne in 1991 and a PhD
in Religious Anthropology and Compared History of Religions from the same university in 1994. He continued with his post-doctoral studies as a Fellow of the New Europe College of Bucharest until 1996. He also lectured on Religious Anthropology at the Department of Philosophy of University of Bucharest. Baconschi was Director of Anastasia Publishers in Bucharest and editor-in-chief of the Spiritual Life on Romanian National Public Television
. He also worked as an advisor with the Ministry of Culture and editor with the Biblical and Mission Institute’s Publishing Office of the Romanian Orthodox Church
.
, to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and to the Republic of San Marino in 1999-2001, to Portugal
in 2002-2004, Ambassador to France
, Monaco
and Andorra
from September 2007 to December 2009. From October 2006 until August 2007, he served as the Presidential
Advisor on political affairs with the Presidential Administration. Baconschi held offices of the Director General in 2001 and State Secretary for Global Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania from January 2005 to September 2006. On December 23, 2009, he was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania. As the Foreign Minister, Baconschi has been a proponent of closer ties with the United States
and further integration into NATO. Domestically, he has been criticized by the Roma community for his remarks allegedly relating Roma ethnicity to criminal elements.
Baconschi published several books in French
and Romanian
, such as:
He is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Italian. He is an affiliate member of the International Association of Patristic Studies (AIEP, Paris), co-founder of the Reflection Group for the Renewal of the Church (Bucharest), member of the New Europe College (Bucharest) and member of the Social Dialog Group (Bucharest).
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania since December 2009.
Early years
Baconschi was born in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
to the poet Anatol E. Baconsky
Anatol E. Baconsky
Anatol E. Baconsky , also known as A. E. Bakonsky, Baconschi or Baconski, was a Romanian modernist poet, essayist, translator, novelist, publisher, literary and art critic...
and his wife Clara. He graduated from the Theological Institute of the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
in 1985, received a Diplôme d'études approfondies (Master of Advanced Studies) at the Université de Paris IV-Sorbonne in 1991 and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Religious Anthropology and Compared History of Religions from the same university in 1994. He continued with his post-doctoral studies as a Fellow of the New Europe College of Bucharest until 1996. He also lectured on Religious Anthropology at the Department of Philosophy of University of Bucharest. Baconschi was Director of Anastasia Publishers in Bucharest and editor-in-chief of the Spiritual Life on Romanian National Public Television
Romanian television
Romanian television may refer to:* Communications media in Romania* Televiziunea Română, TVR, the national television network* List of Romanian language television channels...
. He also worked as an advisor with the Ministry of Culture and editor with the Biblical and Mission Institute’s Publishing Office of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
.
Political career
Baconschi has served as the Romanian Ambassador to the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and to the Republic of San Marino in 1999-2001, to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 2002-2004, Ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
from September 2007 to December 2009. From October 2006 until August 2007, he served as the Presidential
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
Advisor on political affairs with the Presidential Administration. Baconschi held offices of the Director General in 2001 and State Secretary for Global Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania from January 2005 to September 2006. On December 23, 2009, he was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania. As the Foreign Minister, Baconschi has been a proponent of closer ties with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and further integration into NATO. Domestically, he has been criticized by the Roma community for his remarks allegedly relating Roma ethnicity to criminal elements.
Awards and Works
Baconschi has received several awards throughout his career: the Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX (Holy Seat); Grand Officer of the Order of Saint Agatha (San Marino), Officer of the National Order of the “Faithful Service” (Romania), Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit (Portugal).Baconschi published several books in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
, such as:
- Jacob and the Angel. 45 Hypostases of the Religious Dimension, Bucharest, Anastasia Books, 1996, 272 p.
- The Temptation of Goodness. Essays on the Urban Dimension of Faith , Anastasia Books, 1999, 304 p.
- The Power of Schism. A Portrait of European Christianity, , Anastasia Books, 2001, 356 p.
He is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Italian. He is an affiliate member of the International Association of Patristic Studies (AIEP, Paris), co-founder of the Reflection Group for the Renewal of the Church (Bucharest), member of the New Europe College (Bucharest) and member of the Social Dialog Group (Bucharest).