ISLAMABAD, July 3: Excellence in “cultural diplomacy” has brought an award to the Romanian ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Emil Ghitulescue, a journalist-turned diplomat, by the Writers Union of Romania.

Ever since his arrival here, Dr Ghitulescue has published three books, Dialogue Between Civilizations (2002), Universal Values of Romania and Pakistan: Mihai Eminescue and Allama Iqbal, A surprising resemblance (2002) and Pakistan-Romania essays interviews, conferences, commentaries (2003).

Dr Ghitulescue told Dawn that he was proud of writing on the great poet-philosopher of the East, Allama Iqbal, and finding resemblances between him and the Romanian poet Mihai Eminescue. He said he was now planning the publication of his fourth book titled Bucharest-Islamabad, How are Romanians and Pakistanis.

The executive committee of the Writers’ Union of Romania decided to confer this prestigious award at a special ceremony on June 30, in Bucharest to Dr Ghitulescue. The jury comprised 11 members. Many important writers in Romania have won the award.

The ambassador is the author of a large number of books, especially on one of the famous Romanian writers Vasile Aleesandri. He has also authored many university textbooks in his country, especially on Romanian culture and civilization. He has been writing on international relations too. The ambassador was also accredited to Afghanistan.— Mufti Jamiluddin Ahmad