Ilie Văduva

Ilie Văduva
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania
In office
November 11, 1985 – August 26, 1986
PresidentNicolae Ceaușescu
Preceded byȘtefan Andrei
Succeeded byIoan Totu
Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation
In office
August 26, 1986 – May 21, 1988
PresidentNicolae Ceaușescu
Presidential Counselor
In office
December 1988 – December 22, 1989
PresidentNicolae Ceaușescu
Personal details
Born(1934-07-21)July 21, 1934
Aninoasa, Gorj County, Kingdom of Romania
DiedNovember 13, 1998(1998-11-13) (aged 64)
Bucharest, Romania
Political partyRomanian Communist Party
SpouseElza Văduva [ro]
Alma materBucharest Academy of Economic Studies
OccupationEconomist, politician

Ilie Văduva (Romanian pronunciation: [iˈli.e ˈvəduva]; July 21, 1934 – November 13, 1998[1]) was a Romanian communist politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania from 1985 until 1986, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation from August 26, 1986, until May 1988 and Presidential Counselor from December 1988 until December 1989.[2] He was one of those arrested after the 1989 overthrow of the Nicolae Ceaușescu regime.

Life and political career

Văduva was born in 1934[3] Aninoasa, Gorj County. After completing high school in Târgu Jiu in 1954, he attended the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, graduating in 1958. He joined the Romanian Communist Party (PCR) in 1961.[2] He was an alternate member of the Central Committee of the PCR since 1979 and became a full member in 1984.[4] From 1968 to 1970 he pursued his studies in Switzerland, and in 1971 he obtained his Ph.D. in Economics. From January 1980 to November 1985, he served as Rector of the Academy of Economic Studies.[2]

Văduva, who advised on economic issues and had no knowledge of international relations, was regarded as the protégé of the First Lady of Romania, Elena Ceaușescu. In 1985, Elena Ceaușescu selected him for the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing a more experienced and successful minister, Ștefan Andrei, previously appointed by Romanian leader and Elena's husband Nicolae Ceaușescu.[5][6] Văduva served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from November 11, 1985, until August 26, 1986, mainly promoting Elena Ceaușescu's international profile. While a minister, he was also caught in the midst of heated Romania–United States relations with increasing pressure from the United States on the Ceaușescu regime for abuse of human rights.[7][8] He was removed for his ineffectiveness in international affairs of Romania and appointed Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation in 1986.[9] He held this post until May 21, 1988, when he was sacked by the Romanian leadership for his role in storing toxic waste in the Black Sea port of Sulina, causing an environmental scandal and outrage. However, a few months later, in December 1988, he was again given a high-ranking position serving as the Presidential Counselor.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Index:Miniștrii de Externe - Enciclopedia României - prima enciclopedie online despre România". enciclopediaromaniei.ro.
  2. ^ a b c Dobre, Florica, ed. (2004). Membrii C. C. al P. C. R.: 1945–1989 (PDF) (in Romanian). Bucharest: Editura Enciclopedică. pp. 608–609. ISBN 973-45-0486-X.
  3. ^ "Key ministries. Key Ministries". Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  4. ^ a b "Romanian SR/1. Elena Ceaușescu's Prospects of Political Succession". Blinken Open Society Archives. 1989-02-02. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  5. ^ Quinlan, Paul D. (1988). The United States and Romania: American-Romanian relations in the twentieth century. United States: American-Romanian Academy of Arts and Sciences. ISBN 0-912131-07-1. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  6. ^ "RAD/Maier. East Enhanced Personality Cult For Elena Ceaușescu". Blinken Open Society Archives. 1986-01-08. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  7. ^ Kirk, Roger; Kirk, Roger E.; Răceanu, Mircea (1994). Romania versus the United States: diplomacy of the absurd, 1985-1989. United States: Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. p. 48. ISBN 0-312-12059-1. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  8. ^ Terry Atlas (1985-12-16). "Shultz Warns Romania On Rightss Violations". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  9. ^ "Guvernul Constantin Dăscălescu II". Retrieved 2010-08-10.