Liviu Cangeopol

Liviu Cangeopol (b. March 28, 1954) is a Romanian writer, journalist, and political dissident.

Biography

Born in Iasi, Liviu Cangeopol studied Languages and Literature in his home town and Accounting and Business Administration in the United States. He made his writing debut in "Dialog Magazine" (1978). Liviu Cangeopol published the only anti-communist book that was written and made public while still living under the Romanian Communist Regime, "What Else Could Be Said – Free Discussions in an Occupied Country", (1989 -- Agora-USA, 1990 -- Minerva Publishing House, 2000 -- Nemira Publishing House) with co-author Dan Petrescu.

This book is considered one of the most vehement protests written against Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu and his communist regime. [http://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/cms/site/z_is/news/disidentii_ieseni_piloni_ai_disidentei_romanesti_138100.html]

In April 1988, Paris daily "Liberation" published an interview with Liviu Cangeopol, "Be Satisfied Mr. President – Your Name will Remain in History". Broadcasted on "Radio Free Europe", Cangeopol’s interview accused the Romanian President, Nicolae Ceausescu of violating human rights and free speech (this was a very dangerous and an extremely rare act at the time.) [http://www.osa.ceu.hu/files/holdings/300/8/3/text/129-1-150.shtml]

In September 1989, just three months before Romania ended its 45 years of Communism, Cangeopol immigrated to the United States with his family. He began his journalistic career in New York at "Romanian Free World". Cangeopol also published his work in other newspapers such as, "New York Magazine", "Romanian Times", "Cultural Observator", "Contrapunct", "Vatra", "Flacara Iasului", etc. Liviu Cangeopol has been an American Citizen since 1996.

Liviu Cangeopol is one of the few Romanian Human Rights Activists whose name appears in, "Pace of Democratic Reforms and Status of Human Rights in Eastern Europe", written by United States Congress. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations. (U.S. G.P.O., 1990) [http://books.google.com/books?id=JB74x_0fp-8C&q=Cangeopol&dq=Cangeopol&pgis=1...]

On December 18, 2006, the actual Romanian President Traian Basescu, while presenting a report condemning the acts of the former Communist regime, extended special appreciations to Liviu Cangeopol and to six other people for the integrity and courage in their fight for justice under the communist regime. [http://www.presidency.ro/index.php?_RID=det&tb=date&id=8288&_PRID=search]

Published work

* What Else Could Be Said – Free Discussion in an Occupied Country, (co-author Dan Petrescu) (1989 -- Agora-USA, 1990 -- Minerva Publishing House, 2000 -- Nemira Publishing House).
* The Smile - A Portrait of Seashore at Dusk, (Humanitas Publishing House, 2007)

Quotations about Cangeopol

* "Liviu Cangeopol is considered by the majority of readers one of the best Romanian political analysts in the United States. He is one of the anti-communists from Iasi and his arrival to the United States produced a spectacular revival at the prestigious Romanian Free World, from New York. His incorruptible style and critical writing made also a very important contribution to Romanian Times. We owe him our entire gratitude." [http://www.romaniantimes.org/resources/185.+Editorial$2C+Rte$2C+Cristian+Ioanide.pdf]
* "Throughout his journalistic career, Liviu Cangeopol’s character showed integrity and remained untarnished." [http://www.formula-as.ro/2007/772/cultura-9/liviu-cangeopol-8477]
* "In his editorials, permanent rubrics and opinions, Liviu Cangeopol is very critical, speaking of 'a country without future,' which is boycotted by its corrupted leaders. In his opinion, 'without a change, Romania is awaiting for a tomorrow that would never come.'" [http://www.romanialibera.com/articole/articol.php?step=articol&id=1440]

References