Former Romanian president Ion Iliescu was buried on Thursday, in the Ghencea III Military Cemetery, with military honours.
Ion Iliescu died on Tuesday, at the ”Agrippa Ionescu” Hospital in the capital city Bucharest, where he had been hospitalized for 57 days. He was 95 years old.
For two days, state funerals were organized in memory of the man who led Romania between 1990 – 1992, 1992 – 1996 and 2000 – 2004, and Thursday was a day of national mourning, with the Romanian flag lowered to half-mast.
On Wednesday morning, the coffin of the former president, covered with the National Flag, was placed on the catafalque in the Union Hall of the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
The former president’s cross and a photograph were placed on the catafalque. A single wreath, with white flowers, was placed next to the coffin – the one from his wife, Nina Iliescu. „Rest in peace! With deep sorrow, Nina” – is the message written on the wreath’s ribbon.
Throughout Wednesday, state officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, but also ordinary citizens came to pay their last respects to Ion Iliescu.
Among those who offered their condolences were former presidents Emil Constantinescu and Traian Basescu, prime minister Ilie Bolojan, who came accompanied by three members of the cabinet – deputy prime minister Catalin Predoiu, minister of interior, minister of health, Alexandru Rogobete, and minister of labour, Florin Manole, president of the Chamber of Deputies, Sorin Grindeanu, interim president of the PSD (Social Democratic Party), former PSD prime ministers Marcel Ciolacu and Victor Ponta, and other former officials.
In the evening, collaborators and close friends of the former president offered their condolences and a religious service was celebrated, performed by the vicar bishop of the Archbishop of Bucharest, Timotei Prahoveanul.
The state funeral continued on Thursday morning with a short religious moment in the Union Hall at the Cotroceni President Palace, as well as the Guard ceremony at the catafalque, where representatives from each branch of the Romanian Army, as well as former prime ministers and close associates of Ion Iliescu stood guard for a few seconds, as a gesture of homage. Afterwards, a moment of silence was held, and a bugler gave the honour.
From the Union Hall, the coffin was carried through the Bessarabian Gallery, the Hall of Honour and the Canopy, where Honorary Lines made up of military personnel of the Armed Forces, as well as the Military Band, were present. To the sound of the bell from the Cotroceni Church, the funeral procession moved towards the place of worship.
The funeral service of former president Ion Iliescu was performed by the vicar bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, His Eminence Timotei Prahoveanul. The high hierarch was accompanied by a council of priests and deacons.
After the religious service, the funeral procession left for the Marinescu Gate. In front of the procession was the council of priests who officiated the funeral service, and behind the hearse, the coffin was accompanied, part of the way, by officials and close associates of Ion Iliescu present at the ceremony.
On the Marinescu Plateau, the Guard of Honour, made up of soldiers of the 30th Guard Brigade „Mihai Bravul”, presented the last honour to the former head of state, and the flag was lowered in homage.
The National Anthem of Romania was sung, and the procession passed in front of the Guard.
Subsequently, the funeral procession left for the Ghencea III Military Cemetery, where the coffin was placed on a cannon. As a sign of homage, 21 cannon salutes were fired. The burial took place only in the presence of family and close friends.
AGERPRES
