109 HRES 949 IH: Commending the people and Government of U.S. House of Representatives 2006-07-26 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 949 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 26, 2006 Mr. Hyde submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations RESOLUTION Commending the people and Government of Romania, on the occasion of the visit of Romanian President Traian Basescu to the United States, for the strong relationship between Romania and the United States.

Whereas, following the terrorist attacks upon the United States in September 2001, the Government of Romania immediately expressed its sympathy for Americans and others killed in the attacks and pledged its full support in fighting the war on terror; Whereas, on September 19, 2001, the Romanian Parliament voted to open Romanian territory and airspace to United States Armed Forces involved in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; Whereas, beginning in June 2002, Romanian aircraft flew Romanian soldiers to serve in Afghanistan as part of the forces involved in Operation Enduring Freedom and the International Security Assistance Force, and over 700 elite Romanian soldiers are currently stationed in Afghanistan; Whereas Romania stood with the United States as a vital member of the international coalition in Operation Iraqi Freedom by offering diplomatic, political, and military support; Whereas, on February 12, 2003, the Romanian Parliament voted to open Romanian territory and airspace to United States Armed Forces carrying out Operation Iraqi Freedom; Whereas hundreds of American aircraft flew through Romanian airspace and landed at Romanian airfields during the combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom from May to July 2003; Whereas thousands of United States soldiers were stationed and transported into the Iraq theatre of operations from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, and the neighboring Black Sea port of Constantza was also used in the fall of 2002 and spring of 2003 for rotating United States Armed Forces and equipment in and out of the Balkans; Whereas, beginning on March 12, 2003, Romania began deploying military forces to Iraq to assist in building security, peace, and democracy, and over 890 Romanian soldiers are currently stationed in Iraq; Whereas recently President Basescu reaffirmed Romania's intention to continue to deploy Romanian armed forces in Iraq; Whereas in recognition of the close U.S.-Romanian security and political relationship, in December 2005 Romania signed a bilateral agreement with the United States to allow U.S. forces to use Romania military bases; Whereas, together with Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, Romania successfully achieved the military, economic, and political reforms necessary to be invited, at the November 2002 summit meeting in Prague of the North Atlantic Council, to join the NATO alliance; Whereas Romania became a member of the NATO alliance on March 29, 2004; Whereas Romania has made important progress with respect to economic reform and democratic development; Whereas in recognition of these and other developments Romania is slated to accede to the European Union during 2007; Whereas, however, necessary progress has not been made with respect to rule of law issues including judicial reform and ongoing cases such as Romania's actions against Rompetrol Group NV underscores Romania's lack of a truly independent, professional, and non-political justice system; Whereas, on June 21, 2004, the Parliament of Romania enacted Law 273/2004 on adoption, which prohibits intercountry adoption except by a child's biological grandparent or grandparents; and Whereas in his historic address at Piata Revolutiei on November 23, 2002, President Bush told the Romanian people that Romania has made a historic journey. Instead of hatred, you have chosen tolerance. Instead of destructive rivalry with your neighbors, you have chosen reconciliation. Instead of state control, you have chosen free markets and the rule of law. And instead of dictatorship, you have built a proud and working democracy.: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)commends the strong and vibrant relations between the United States and Romania; (2)recognizes the steps the Government of Romania has taken and continues to take in economic, political, and social reforms, and urges the Government to take additional steps to establish an independent, professional, and non-political justice system, in part by taking action to end all politically inspired legal cases; (3)values the participation of a significant number of Romanian troops and civilian experts in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the permission granted by the Government of Romania for the United States to use Romanian airspace and territory, and the deployment of Romanian military forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, all of which have been important contributions to the global war on terror and serve as a tangible and ongoing demonstration of Romania's commitment as an ally of the United States; (4)urges the Government of Romania to complete the processing of intercountry adoption cases which were pending when Law 273/2004 was enacted and to amend its child welfare and adoption laws to decrease barriers to adoption, both domestic and intercountry, including by allowing intercountry adoption by persons other than biological grandparents; and (5)welcomes Romanian President Traian Basescu to the United States and looks forward to expanded political, diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation between Romania and the United States.