Champion of Romania's natural beauty Charley Ottley takes Romanian citizenship oath, calls it a great honor
British journalist and film producer Charley Ottley took the Romanian citizenship oath on Thursday in Bucharest, after a two-year wait. The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the National Authority for Citizenship (ANC), in the presence of British ambassador in Bucharest Giles Portman, Justice Minister Radu Marinescu, ANC acting president Claudia Tapardel, and numerous reporters.
Over 30 foreigners from Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Jordan, Lebanon, Serbia and India took the oath of allegiance alongside the British journalist.
The media personality confessed to being overwhelmed with emotion, as everything proved much more stressful than expected. Referring to his momentary stumble in delivering the oath, he said that despite minute previous preparations, he simply panicked, precisely out of fear to not screw it up.
He said he is deeply grateful to all the Romanians who have supported him and his team over these 15 years. As an Englishman who came to love Romania and now seeks country citizenship, he said he hopes this sets an example for the diaspora, noting that Romania keeps improving, with roads and hospitals getting better; while education still needs work, life here is steadily getting better, Ottley said after the ceremony.
He also confessed that he likes living with his partner on the farm he owns in a village in Brasov County, where he raises domestic animals: three cows, three cats and 20 chickens. Living in the countryside as a digital nomad feels like having the best of both worlds - surrounded by beauty yet connected globally. It's a dream come true, and I'm deeply grateful to the Romanian people and all who have supported us and watched our films, said Ottley.
The British journalist explained that the process of obtaining Romanian citizenship took so long because 'not everything is digitalized in Romania yet'.
He voiced his deep gratitude to the Romanian ambassador in London, Laura Popescu, for nominating him for Honorary Citizenship for Cultural Services, and said that learning a few weeks ago about being finally being granted Romanian citizenship was an incredibly emotional moment he could only share it with a few close friends. It's been a long journey, and now I can finally call Romania not just my spiritual home, but my legal one as well, and that is a profound honor, he said in conclusion. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Eusebi Manolache; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)
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