Democratic values are at the heart of our strong and sustainable strategic partnership, said the U.S Ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec at the reception held on the USA Independence Day, marked in the San Diego -California style, which is the ambassador’s hometown.
“We are delighted to have you join our celebration of America’s 247th birthday in true San Diego, California style, honoring the history, people and diversity which have made the United States the vibrant democracy that it is today (…) We are delighted to have you join our celebration of America’s 247th birthday in true San Diego, California style, honoring the history, people and diversity which have made the United States the vibrant democracy that it is today,” ambassador Kavalec said.
The American diplomat pointed out that our countries want to build democratic societies and share the same values, including those related to Ukraine.
“Romania and the United States want to build democratic, more inclusive and prosperous societies where our peoples – and our children, and their children – can flourish and succeed.
These shared values are why we stand united against Russia’s unprovoked and horrific attack on Ukraine. Together with NATO allies, we offer support to the Ukrainian people in these difficult times. The Romanians welcomed the millions of Ukrainian refugees with open arms, with tea and cake. The Romanian government offers invaluable aid to Ukraine. Your generosity is touching and will not be forgotten.
Romania’s determination to stand by Ukraine and its NATO partners, in defense of democracy, international peace and security, is a model for all of us. Russia’s aggression clearly demonstrates why our strategic partnership, going from strength to strength for 25 years, is so important to our defense and resilience. We are grateful to Romania for hosting over 3,000 US troops, along with other allied forces, here on NATO’s eastern flank.This presence not only allows us to train together, to improve the capabilities of allies, but also helps us to ensure that Romania’s borders are secured and that we can sleep more peacefully,” Kathleen Kavalec said.
The ambassador also mentioned the important of the Romanian-American economic partnership.
“Our partnership is also built on strong economic ties between our countries, ties that have continued to develop. Trade with Romania has tripled in the last 15 years, reaching a value of over 5 billion dollars annually. The number of American companies present here has doubled to nearly 1,000.We are proud that our companies have contributed to Romania’s economic growth, providing more than 110,000 jobs. Many U.S. companies are with us here tonight, and I want to give them a shout out for their vital contributions to our bilateral ties.”
In her view, another bedrock of the U.S.-Romania partnership is the long history of people-to-people ties between the two countries.
“From George Enescu and Maria Tănase to Louis Armstrong and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, we have enjoyed a whole series of exchanges and cooperation in the field of art, education and business, which have intensified in the context in which our world has become more interconnected than ever. The benefits of this close partnership are on both sides. The United States has benefited enormously from the talent of Romanians. Technology companies created by Romanians, such as BitDefender and Ui-Path have become a brand in the United States, and I understand that Romanian is the second language spoken in Microsoft company branches all over the world. George Palade, Nobel laureate and father of cell biology, helped develop the biology program at the University of San Diego, California, where our daughter now studies. And our son recently obtained a degree in computer science from the University of California at Berkeley, which hosts the world-renowned Romanian in the field of cyber security, Professor Raluca Ada Popa,” Kavalec stated.
President Iohannis: Strategic Partnership to keep on guiding Romania’s foreign and security policy
Attending the ceremony marking the U.S. Independence Day, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis congratulated the American friends on their National Day.
“It gives me great pleasure to be here today and to extend to our American friends Romania’s warm congratulations on the occasion of the Independence Day of the United States of America.
The Declaration of Independence, adopted 247 years ago, remains one of the core documents marking the progress of human freedom through the ages. Its adoption announced to the world the birth of a new nation, a sovereign and engaged participant in global affairs.
Indeed, the opening statement of the Declaration of Independence lists “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind” as one of the reasons that underpin its adoption.
These ideas of free and independent States, of decency in international conduct, form a core part of another document, one in the redaction and adoption of which the United States played a key part – the United Nations Charter.
Today, more than ever, when Russia continues its illegal and horrible war unleashed against Ukraine, we must act with full determination in order to defend the principles consecrated in these core documents,” President Iohannis stated
He also underlined that the Strategic Partnership with the United States will continue to guide Romania’s foreign and security policy, while recalling the firm commitment of the US president “to defend every centimetre of allied territory.”
“As a concrete manifestation of this commitment, thousands of American soldiers are today in Romania, contributing, together with their Romanian, French, Dutch, Belgian and other allied nations’ comrades, to ensuring our security and the Euro-Atlantic space. I assure you of the full cooperation of the Romanian authorities in creating the best conditions for a persistent presence, we hope even permanent, in Romania, of the forces of our main strategic partner,” Iohannis said.
The Romanian head of state also spoke about the decision of the United States to develop a Black Sea Security Strategy, “to which Romania contributed substantially, conceptually.”
“This strategy is based on a comprehensive approach in political terms, in terms of security, economic cooperation, energy security and democratic resilience. It is Romania’s vision that we have actively promoted in our dialogue with the United States, but also at the level of the European Union, of NATO and at the regional level,” President Iohannis said.
President Iohannis stressed that “the Black Sea can and must play its natural role as an interconnector between Europe and Central Asia, becoming a space of security and prosperity for the riparian states and not only.”
“In this complicated regional and international context, Romania will continue to be a factor of stability, a contributor to the resilience and security of the Black Sea region and an active participant in the development and strengthening of the transatlantic relationship. Along with the fact that we are a member of the European Union and an ally within NATO, the Strategic Partnership with the United States will continue to guide Romania’s foreign and security policy,” he argued.
The President recalled the current security situation. “Today, in the immediate vicinity of Romania, Russia acts against the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. The territorial sovereignty of Ukraine, its right to an independent foreign policy and even its right to exist are explicitly denied. We are faced with unilateral attempts to rewrite, reinterpret or selectively apply the basic principles of the international order, in order to return to an era of spheres of influence, in which Moscow can determine at its discretion the degree of freedom, sovereignty and the route of the borders of its neighbors,” he said.
Consequently, the United States of America and Romania, together with European partners and allies, “have acted and continue to act in support of Ukraine and all vulnerable partners in the Black Sea region.”
Klaus Iohannis also reminded of “the successful implementation of the project of small modular reactors in partnership with the United States will allow the production of clean energy and increase energy security, not only for Romania, but for the entire Black Sea region.” The Romanian head of state underlined that “we must continue to strengthen our economic and trade cooperation and surpass last year’s record of $5.13 billion.”
In the end, President Iohannis also referred to the Visa Waiver Programme, saying that “Romania will continue to actively collaborate with its American partners in order to achieve the common goal of including our country in the Visa Waiver Programme.”