Former Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu, violinist Razvan Stoica and Mihail Robu, founder of the Romanian Truffle Festival, are among the laureates of the 2026 Romanian Diplomacy Gala, held on Monday evening at the Bucharest National Opera.

The Gala awards included four categories, with the distinctions consisting of certificates and works of art created by Lisandru Neamtu, a UNARTE professor and renowned contemporary artist, whose work has been featured in multiple exhibitions at WIN Gallery.

The Diplomacy Award was presented to Emil Hurezeanu, Ambassador Emeritus and former Foreign Minister; the Business Award went to Mihai Raneti, founder of CyberSwarm; the Culture Award was presented to violinist Razvan Stoica; while the Public Award for positive impact on society was received by Mihail Robu, founder of the Romanian Truffle Festival and the International Truffle Festivals Association.

An honorary distinction was presented to the Director General of the Bucharest National Opera, Maestro Daniel Jinga.

Opening the event, His Royal Highness Prince Radu of Romania stressed that the organisers, a generation born 27 years ago - the same age as the future King Carol I when he came to Romania in 1866 - 'want a Romania that is ethical, predictable, prosperous, stable, dignified, free and democratic'.

'This generation, intertwined with that of Carol I 160 years ago, has found the strength to speak about security policies, international relations, diplomacy and, above all, Romania's position on the global stage, at the most difficult moment for these issues in the entire contemporary era. In particular, these issues frighten Romanian and European society; these are the issues that are causing difficulties for the entire democratic order; these are the issues to which many of those at the helm of our countries are unable to provide an answer,' Prince Radu said.

A message from Senate President Mircea Abrudean, who highlighted the role of parliamentary diplomacy and the contribution of the Royal Family of Romania to promoting Romania's interests internationally, was delivered by Mihai Cotet, Vice-President of the Senate.

'Only through genuine institutional dialogue between generations can we ensure the resilience of Romania's foreign policy. Synchronising all these instruments - executive diplomacy, the efforts of the Royal House, parliamentary diplomacy and the integration of new generations of specialists - is an essential condition for Romania to maintain its international relevance and credibility,' Mircea Abrudean said.

For her part, acting Foreign Minister Oana Toiu welcomed the organisation of the gala by a student organisation and stressed that 'diplomacy is no longer, and cannot be, an exercise reserved exclusively for institutions'.

'Romania's international standing is built day by day in our relations with each of our partner countries, in multilateral formats, throughout the world. It is built day by day by artists and entrepreneurs, by every Romanian who builds their life through honest work, making use of freedom and mobility. But it is also built day by day through the decisions we make together at home. Through the way in which we protect the freedom won by the generations before us,' Oana Toiu said.

Acting Culture Minister Andras Demeter spoke about cultural diplomacy and said that it 'must be a coherent component of Romania's international presence'.

'A modern cultural policy does not merely administer existing heritage and institutions; it invests in a society's capacity to create, to meet, to share and circulate concepts, ideas, concerns and convictions and, of course, to establish meaningful, genuine relationships in the present, with the potential for continuity in the future,' Andras Demeter said.

Acting National Defence Minister Radu Miruta urged the young people present to study.

'Never hesitate to learn as much as you possibly can. There will continue to be injustices in the world - there is a great deal of injustice in Romania as well. However, beyond those of us who temporarily occupy such positions, there is a truth, a postulate: what you have managed to acquire through learning is among the very few things that no politician can take away from you, for which absolutely no one can humiliate you, and it is the element and the step which, with great seriousness and relying on your own abilities, you can use to climb higher,' Radu Miruta urged.

During the Gala, presidential adviser Sorin Costreie also addressed the audience, thanking the students who had given 'a lesson in diplomacy' and shown that it is possible to do 'something serious, fairly quickly and on a very large scale' (the Romanian Diplomacy Gala - editor's note). Anca Dragu, Governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Moldova, also spoke and said she was 'very optimistic' that the Republic of Moldova's dream of becoming a member of the European Union would become a reality.

The Security Studies and World Politics Association (SSWP), in partnership with the Bucharest National Opera, organised the Romanian Diplomacy Gala on Monday. Held under the motto 'Celebrating Those Who Advance Romania', the event brought together more than 600 representatives of public institutions, the diplomatic corps, the business community, and the academic and cultural sectors, alongside young professionals and students.

Romania's National News Agency AGERPRES was among the event's media partners. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)