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ASHRAF SIDDIQUI
Doha
Moldovan community members in Qatar recently gathered in the premises of their country’s embassy to celebrate Martisor, an ancient tradition that welcomes the arrival of spring season. Dressed in their Sunday best, the Moldovans showed extraordinary bonhomie on the occasion, interacting and exchanging with one another Martisor, a pair of red and white flowers as a symbol of respect, love and friendship for each other. Martisor can be a pair of red and white flowers or made of fabric. Community members along with their children also conducted a workshop on how to make Martisor from fabrics.
Talking to “Qatar Tribune” at the event, Charge d’ Affaires at the Moldova embassy Mihai Clapaniuc said that Martisor is an annual event celebrated to welcome Spring. Tracing the origin of this tradition to an episode in the Moldovan folklore, Clapaniuc said that centuries ago during the winter season a princess was escaping from her enemies when she had herself scratched with a thorns in forest. The drops of blood from her wound fell on the snow and were transformed into the first Giocel flowers of that the spring season. Other than Moldova, Clapaniuc said, that leaving a side of the story, Martisor is also celebrated in Bulgaria and Romania and is recognised by UNESCO.
Eugenia Pascaruc, a Moldovan woman serving in Qatar for the last six years, lauded the efforts of the embassy in organising this event. “I feel so happy to be among my country folks, getting an opportunity to meet them and make new friends.”
Andrui Balan, a senior Moldovan engineer with Qatar Foundation working here for the last 13 years, was all praise for the Moldovan embassy in Qatar for organising such traditional celebrations. He said that such celebrations provided a great opportunity for families as well as children to meet each other. Engineer Balan lauded the community members for arranging a workshop and demonstrating how to make Martisor. He said that such celebrations being held lately in Qatar gives Moldovans an opportunity to meet and know one another.
Turning to the ongoing blockade of Qatar by some of the neighboring countries, the Moldovan Charge d’ Affaires said, “We are concerned over the current regional crisis and the lingering Gulf crisis. We believe that international norms, principals and rules of diplomacy guide the resolution of the GCC feud through peaceful means and dialogue.”
As regards the economic relations between Qatar and Moldova, Mihai Clapaniuc said that Moldova has eight economic zones and offers huge investment opportunity to Qatari businesses. Qatari investors may also explore sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, real estate and some other areas. The Moldovan envoy said that his country wanted to build strong trade relations with Qatar and was especially interested in exporting agro-products to Qatar. He said that recently one of the importers from Qatar brought 100 tonnes of apples. Moldova can also export meat and cattle, besides lime stones, which the country has in abundance, he said, adding that with its vast fertile land, Moldova can help Qatar overcome its food security challenges.
Before coming to Qatar in August 2018, the 26-year-old diplomat had served on the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Middle East and Africa desk. Qatar and Moldova established diplomatic relations on June 13, 1997. He said that establishment of embassies by the two countries in 2014 had followed the visit of Moldova Prime Minister to Qatar in 2012.
Paying his tributes to the first ambassador of Moldova in Qatar, who died in office in 2017, Clapaniuc said that he feels pride when people remember the late ambassador with complimentary words. He said that the late envoy of his country had put in tremendous efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Qatar and Moldova. The Oxford-educated diplomat said that though he is a hard working person, he was fortunate to have trained and worked under highly professional and learned superiors who helped him learn the ropes.
Before the function ended, the community members were served with traditional dishes and some of the youths enjoyed preparing bar-b-q.
Doha
Moldovan community members in Qatar recently gathered in the premises of their country’s embassy to celebrate Martisor, an ancient tradition that welcomes the arrival of spring season. Dressed in their Sunday best, the Moldovans showed extraordinary bonhomie on the occasion, interacting and exchanging with one another Martisor, a pair of red and white flowers as a symbol of respect, love and friendship for each other. Martisor can be a pair of red and white flowers or made of fabric. Community members along with their children also conducted a workshop on how to make Martisor from fabrics.
Talking to “Qatar Tribune” at the event, Charge d’ Affaires at the Moldova embassy Mihai Clapaniuc said that Martisor is an annual event celebrated to welcome Spring. Tracing the origin of this tradition to an episode in the Moldovan folklore, Clapaniuc said that centuries ago during the winter season a princess was escaping from her enemies when she had herself scratched with a thorns in forest. The drops of blood from her wound fell on the snow and were transformed into the first Giocel flowers of that the spring season. Other than Moldova, Clapaniuc said, that leaving a side of the story, Martisor is also celebrated in Bulgaria and Romania and is recognised by UNESCO.
Eugenia Pascaruc, a Moldovan woman serving in Qatar for the last six years, lauded the efforts of the embassy in organising this event. “I feel so happy to be among my country folks, getting an opportunity to meet them and make new friends.”
Andrui Balan, a senior Moldovan engineer with Qatar Foundation working here for the last 13 years, was all praise for the Moldovan embassy in Qatar for organising such traditional celebrations. He said that such celebrations provided a great opportunity for families as well as children to meet each other. Engineer Balan lauded the community members for arranging a workshop and demonstrating how to make Martisor. He said that such celebrations being held lately in Qatar gives Moldovans an opportunity to meet and know one another.
Turning to the ongoing blockade of Qatar by some of the neighboring countries, the Moldovan Charge d’ Affaires said, “We are concerned over the current regional crisis and the lingering Gulf crisis. We believe that international norms, principals and rules of diplomacy guide the resolution of the GCC feud through peaceful means and dialogue.”
As regards the economic relations between Qatar and Moldova, Mihai Clapaniuc said that Moldova has eight economic zones and offers huge investment opportunity to Qatari businesses. Qatari investors may also explore sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, real estate and some other areas. The Moldovan envoy said that his country wanted to build strong trade relations with Qatar and was especially interested in exporting agro-products to Qatar. He said that recently one of the importers from Qatar brought 100 tonnes of apples. Moldova can also export meat and cattle, besides lime stones, which the country has in abundance, he said, adding that with its vast fertile land, Moldova can help Qatar overcome its food security challenges.
Before coming to Qatar in August 2018, the 26-year-old diplomat had served on the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Middle East and Africa desk. Qatar and Moldova established diplomatic relations on June 13, 1997. He said that establishment of embassies by the two countries in 2014 had followed the visit of Moldova Prime Minister to Qatar in 2012.
Paying his tributes to the first ambassador of Moldova in Qatar, who died in office in 2017, Clapaniuc said that he feels pride when people remember the late ambassador with complimentary words. He said that the late envoy of his country had put in tremendous efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Qatar and Moldova. The Oxford-educated diplomat said that though he is a hard working person, he was fortunate to have trained and worked under highly professional and learned superiors who helped him learn the ropes.
Before the function ended, the community members were served with traditional dishes and some of the youths enjoyed preparing bar-b-q.
