On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Radu Gabriel Safta presented his credentials to Afioga Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati Mualia, a member of the Samoan Council of Deputies, at a ceremony held in Apia. This officially accredited Safta as the Ambassador of Romania to Samoa, with residence in Canberra, Australia.
Samoa and Romania have had friendly relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 2006. Samoa continues to receive assistance through the European Union Development Fund, which supports regional development programs through the Pacific Islands Forum.
The two countries have also worked together at the United Nations to achieve their shared goals of prosperity for their citizens. During the ceremony, Safta emphasized the importance of using existing avenues to strengthen cooperation, such as their membership in the Pacific Islands Forum and the ACP-EU partnership. He also mentioned the upcoming signing of the Samoa Agreement in Apia next month.
Le Mamea expressed confidence that Safta’s appointment as Ambassador would further strengthen bilateral relations between Samoa and Romania.
Safta is a career diplomat who has held various senior positions at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has served as First Secretary, Counsellor, Minister-Counsellor, and Minister Plenipotentiary in various Romanian missions. He has also served as Consul General of Romania in Toronto, Canada and in Istanbul, Turkey. Safta was Romania’s Representative to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation and was posted as Ambassador of Romania in Pretoria, South Africa, with non-resident accreditation to Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, and Lesotho. He is currently the Ambassador of Romania to Australia with cross accreditation to Samoa. Safta holds a PhD in International Relations and European Studies from the Babeş Bolyai University in Romania.
