Teodor Meleșcanu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Teodor Meleșcanu
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Meleșcanu in 2017
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| President of the Senate of Romania | |
| In office 10 September 2019 – 3 February 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu |
| Succeeded by | Titus Corlățean (Acting) |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 4 January 2017 – 15 July 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Sorin Grindeanu Mihai Tudose Mihai Fifor (Acting) Viorica Dăncilă |
| Preceded by | Lazăr Comănescu |
| Succeeded by | Ramona Mănescu |
| In office 10 November 2014 – 24 November 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Victor Ponta |
| Preceded by | Titus Corlățean |
| Succeeded by | Bogdan Aurescu |
| In office 19 November 1992 – 11 December 1996 |
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| Prime Minister | Nicolae Văcăroiu |
| Preceded by | Adrian Năstase |
| Succeeded by | Adrian Severin |
| Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service | |
| In office 28 February 2012 – 22 September 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu |
| Succeeded by | Silviu Predoiu (Acting) |
| Minister of Justice Acting |
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| In office 15 January 2008 – 29 February 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu |
| Preceded by | Tudor Chiuariu |
| Succeeded by | Cătălin Predoiu |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 5 April 2007 – 22 December 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu |
| Preceded by | Sorin Frunzăverde |
| Succeeded by | Mihai Stănișoară |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Teodor Viorel Meleșcanu
10 March 1941 Brad, Hunedoara County, Kingdom of Romania |
| Political party | Party of Social Democracy in Romania (Before 1997) Alliance for Romania (1997–2001) National Liberal Party (2001–2012) Independent (2012–2016) Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (2016–2019) Independent (2019–2020) Humanist Power Party (2020–present) |
| Spouse | Felicia Meleșcanu |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Education | University of Bucharest University of Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies |
Teodor Viorel Meleșcanu (born March 10, 1941) is a Romanian politician, diplomat, and jurist. A diplomat helps countries talk to each other and solve problems peacefully. A jurist is an expert in law. He has held many important jobs in Romania's government.
He was the Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Romania (SIE) from 2012 to 2014. He also served as a senator three times. He was the Minister of Defense from 2007 to 2008. He also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs several times: from 1992 to 1996, for a short time in November 2014, and again from January 2017 to July 2019. In September 2019, he was chosen to be the President of the Senate, a very important role in Romania's parliament. He left this position in February 2020.
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Early Life and Education
Teodor Meleșcanu was born in Brad, a town in Hunedoara County, Romania. When he was about five years old, he moved to Buteni, his grandparents' village.
He went to high school at Moise Nicoară National College in Arad. After that, he studied at the University of Bucharest, where he earned a degree in law in 1964. He also studied at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, graduating in 1968. In 1973, he earned a special doctorate degree in political science and international law from the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International Studies.
Political Career and Roles
From 1966 to 1990, Teodor Meleșcanu worked in different diplomatic roles for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In August 1990, he became an undersecretary of state in this ministry.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from November 1992 to November 1996 in the government led by Nicolae Văcăroiu. This role meant he was in charge of Romania's relationships with other countries.
Senator and Party Leadership
In 1996, he ran for election to the Senate as an independent candidate and was elected. The Senate is one of the two parts of Romania's parliament. He became the president of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Senate from 1996 to 2000.
In 1997, Meleșcanu helped start a new political party called the Alliance for Romania (Alianța pentru România). He was elected as the president of this party in 1997 and again in 2001. In 2002, his party joined with the National Liberal Party (PNL), and he became a vice-president of the PNL. From 2004, he served as a Liberal senator for Prahova.
Other Ministerial Positions
- Minister of Defense: From 2007 to 2008, he was the Minister of Defense. This job involves overseeing the country's military and national security.
- Director of Foreign Intelligence Service: In 2012, President Traian Băsescu appointed him as the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE). This agency collects information about other countries to protect Romania's interests. He held this position until 2014.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs (again): In November 2014, he was appointed foreign minister again for a short period. He resigned after some challenges with voting for Romanians living abroad during the presidential election.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs (third time): In January 2018, he became the Foreign Minister of Romania for a third time, serving in the government led by Viorica Dăncilă.
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President of the Senate
On September 10, 2019, Teodor Meleșcanu was elected President of the Senate. This is a very important leadership role in the Romanian parliament. He resigned from this office in February 2020.
Academic Work
Besides his work in politics and diplomacy, Teodor Meleșcanu is also a professor. He teaches at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Bucharest. He teaches courses on topics like "Public International Law," "European Security," and "The Principles and Practice of Diplomacy." He also teaches about international negotiation and public international law to master's students.
He has written many scientific papers and publications about international law and diplomacy. He is also involved with several organizations that focus on international law and relations.
Personal Life
Teodor Meleșcanu was married to Felicia Meleșcanu, who was a jurist and a journalist for Romanian Television (TVR). She passed away in January 2004.
Images for kids
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Meleșcanu meets with U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo in Washington, D.C., in 2019.
See also
- List of current foreign ministers
- List of foreign ministers in 1996
- List of foreign ministers in 2014
- List of foreign ministers in 2017
