On May 23, Rupea town hall celebrated 15 years of twinning between Rupea and Denderleeuw, Belgium. The event was attended by 14 representatives of Denderleeuw, including the mayor Mark Van der Poorten and Marcel Van der Elst, the twinning artisan. ?Your presence here ? vice-mayor Pompiliu Comaniciu stated - have changed the Belgians? and Europeans? perception of Romania?. Mayor Flavius Dumitrescu reminded the projects unfolded by the Belgian delegation in various fields such as education, health and social protection. ?All this had a considerable impact upon the local community. We are glad you have managed to contact friends in Belgium minded to help us. I hope this twinning last at least a century?, the mayor stated.
Volunteers to help Rupea
The mayor of Denderleeuw revealed that the delegation?s members are the employees of Town Hall and Local Council of Denderleeuw and some friends of them, acting as volunteers to help Rupea. ?After 15 years, friendly contacts and relationships have been established not only between the two towns but also between families and people. A juridical structure was created to establish a legal base to their actions. I will remain the friend of Rupea community whether I?ll continue or not to be the mayor?.
Mr. Mark Van der Poorten also offered 2500 ? to Rupea hospital; according to the manager Dr. Ioan Adrian Dutcus, the money will be used to endow the radiology section.
Belgian-Romanian Puppet
The Belgian delegation was foregone by the arrival of a Belgian puppet, sent by the visitors as a symbol of the friendships between the two communities. The puppet was dressed by inhabitants of Rupea in a popular costume, specific to the area. Karel de Vos and Mrs. Godelive stood sponsors to the puppets, enchanted to see how the Belgian symbol had become Romanian. ?This lovely puppet will be donated to Gramont Museum and it will have a place of honour?, the godfather stated.
Show for the Visitors
The event was closed by an exceptional show, offered by the youths of Rupea highschool; they sang various songs in French and performed a play that delighted the audience. The mayor of Rupea offered the visitors diplomas to mark 15 years of collaboration between Denderleeuw and Rupea.
