US Day reception in Bucharest. Ambassador Klemm: My embassy will fulfill my President’s commitment to further stregthen the strategic partnership with Romania. President Iohannis: Boosting the transatlantic relations is vital

The US Ambassador to Romania Hans Klemm said on Tuesday, the 4th of July, at the reception hosted by the American Embassy in Bucharest on America’s Independence Day that the embassy will fulfill the US President Donald Trump’s commitment to further stregthen the strategic partnership with Romania.

In his turn, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis attending the reception stated that the strategic partnership with the US has decisively influenced the development of Romania, and that Romanians know today that democratic values are not negotiable.

“This year Romania and the United States celebrate the 20th anniversary of our strategic partnership. At your meeting in Washington, Mr. President, you encouraged President Trump to look to the future of our partnership and to explore ways of strengthening it. And, President Trump replied that our <partnership covers many dimensions, including economic, military and cultural ties. And today we are making those ties even stronger.>

My embassy will now fulfill my President’s commitment to further strengthen our partnership. This autumn, we will host the largest American trade mission ever to explore Romania, and we will encourage investment between our countries in both directions. We can do this most effectively in a policy environment here in Romania that is stable, predictable, transparent and marked by genuine consultation with all stakeholders, including foreign investors. Working with partners such as the Romanian-American Foundation, we will encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in Romania,” said Ambassador Klemm.

The American ambassador reviewed the bilateral military relation and made mentions of the recent visit paid by President Iohannis to Washington and of the meeting with the US counterpart Donald Trump.

“At this 20th anniversary of our strategic partnership, we must chart its future course, but let me also take a moment to look to the past, to recognize what we have accomplished: Romania’s entry into NATO, our shared sacrifice on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, the opening of the Deveselu missile defense facility and, Mr. President, your meeting in Washington with President Trump. In its confirmation of the strength and ambition of our partnership, this was the most significant bilateral event for Romania and America in many years, perhaps in generations,” Hans Klemm pointed out, adding that “America deeply honors those Romanians who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in this struggle.”

He further recalled some of Trump’s remarks in the Rose Garden of the White House on the day he met Klaus Iohannis, mentioning the gratitude the US President expressed to the <Romanian people for everything they contribute to our common defense and to the fight against the evil menace of terrorism>, but also the anti-corruption fight under way in Romania and the praises to Klaus Iohannis in this fight.

“To you, Mr. President, he said, <I want to applaud you and your courageous efforts in Romania to fight corruption and defend the rule of law. This work is necessary to create an environment where trade and commerce can flourish and where citizens can prosper. We support very strongly Romania, and support that fight on corruption. We will always support that.>

And, in conclusion, President Trump emphasized, <I look forward to strengthening our alliance with your country and our bonds with your people. The future of Romania, and Romania’s relationship with the United States, is very, very bright.>” the Ambassador concluded.

President Iohannis: Boosting the transatlantic relations is vital. Romanians know democratic values are not negotiable

In his turn, President Klaus Iohannis said in his speech at the reception on 4th of July that boosting the transatlantic relations is vital, stressing that Romania has learnt during the partenership with the US what ” the force of democracy” and “respect for justice” mean. He also stated that the strategic partnership with the US has decisively influenced Romania’s development and that  Romanians know today that democratic values are not negotiable.

“241 years after the signing the the US declaration of independence , the 4^th of July is fundamental not only for the Romanian people but for the entire world the world would not be the same without this historic milestone. This should remind us once more that we on both sides of the Atlantic have to stand closer than ever to defend our core values and our collective security,” Iohannis began his speech in English.

“This year, we celebrate two decades of the strategic partnership between Romania and the US. This partnership has decisively influenced Romania’s development in all these 20 years. These 20 years Romania has learnt, including with support from the US, what the force of democracy, respect for justice, the rule of law and transparency mean. The Romanian citizens know today that the democratic values are not negotiable. They are the principles enshrined in the US Declaration of Independence and now they are bringing our nations even closer,” Iohannis said.

He said that Romanians have proved their maturity and moral uprightness, adding that it is time Romania should be responsibly and predictably governed.

The Romanian president asserted that the commercial relation between Romania and the US must be strengthened through increasing the commercial exchanges and the American investments in Romania, but also through supporting the interest of the Romanian businessmen in the American market.

Iohannis underlined that to reach these goals, Romania needs a ruling able to ensure a stable economic climate, a predictable and transparent legislative framework, reduced red tape and respect for the rule of law.

“The citizens of today’s Romania have proved maturity and moral uprightness. The time is now for the country to be responsibly and predictably governed, by placing the citizens’ interest uppermost and by proving to our foreign partners that Romania is the same stable partner that meets its commitments. I use this occasion to reiterate the fact that, for the foreign investors, so that Romania should attract American companies, for instance, it’s important to provide a stable economic climate, a predictable and transparent legislative framework, reduced red tape and respect for the rule of law. I hope the new government will bear in mind these fundamental principles,” the Romanian head of state argued.

Klaus Iohannis also talked abou the military side of the Romanian-US strategic partnership within NATO, while hailing the increase proposed by Donald Trump to finance the American military’s activities, reminding that the Saber Guardian 2017 military exercise will take place in Romania this month.

The theme US Day reception in Bucharest was under the sign of sports, as the US is also celebrating this year the 70th anniversary of when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. For that reason, the US Embassy  welcomed Jackie Robinson’s daughter,  Sharon Robinson, to Bucharest at the reception. “We are inspired by her father’s courage to do what was right, even when it was extremely difficult to do so. Jackie Robinson taught us that we cannot sit on the sidelines and hope for the best, we must be active citizens and strive for what is best for our country, our people,” said Ambassador Klemm.

Three former Major League Baseball stars, Scott Erickson, LaTroy Hawkins, and Marlon Anderson. 3 were also attending the reception in Bucharest.

The reception was also attended by PM Mihai Tudose, ministers of his Cabinet, representatives of the political parties, members of the diplomatic corps, military and judiciary staff.

An aviation show ended the official ceremonies of the reception.