Investiture ceremony of Simona Cojocaru at Romanian Ministry of Defense

Romanian Ministry of Defense (MApN) conducted, on Thursday, 28 November, the investiture ceremony of Simona Cojocaru as Secretary of State and Chief of Department for Defense policy, planning and international relations, in the presence of Minister of National Defense, Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă, and Deputy Chief of Defense, Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu.

Ceremony has also been attended by Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dănuț Sebastian Neculăescu.

Minister of National Defense highlighted the special activity of Secretary of State Cojocaru during the time she worked in the Department, appreciating her professionalism and experience. "I am sure you will be able to polarize all the positive energy of young staff working within the department and, together, to meet your current and future goals. At the same time, I am fully convinced that you will find a line of communication which is as consistent and continuous as possible, both in the structure you lead, and with the other structures within the Ministry of National Defense", said Minister Ciucă, assuring Simona Cojocaru of the full support she will have from the MApN management team.

In turn, new Secretary of State for Defense, planning and international relations policy thanked for the confidence that was granted to her and gave assurances that the Department she heads will support and fulfill the objectives of the Ministry of National Defense using all the strengths it has - professionalism, intelligence and youth. "We analyze, evaluate and make every effort to ensure Romania the power to intervene at the decisions of the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union. We assure you that we will continue the same lines of action and, to get the best results, we will collaborate, as well as so far, with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, said Simona Cojocaru.

Simona Cojocaru has a degree in global economics, being a graduate of the Faculty of International Economic Relations within the Academy of Economic Studies. She also have master's degrees in International Relations and European Integration at the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, informs the MApN in a press release.

She has completed various forms of international relations trainings at renowned schools abroad, such as Harvard University, JFK Government School - "Senior Executives in International Security" Program; Royal Military College, Shrivenham, UK - "European Security"; France - "Personalité d'avenir défense" program, organized by the French Ministry of Defense; USA - "Challenges of US foreign policy. European Regional Project" - International Visitor Leadership Program, organized by the US State Department.

Simona Cojocaru has been working in the Department of Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations since 1997, and between 2013-2015 and 2017-2019 she was the Director of the Defense Policy Directorate.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei