[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 190 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ROMANIAN NATIONAL DAY

                                 ______


                           HON. FLOYD SPENCE

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 30, 1995

  Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a few moments to talk 
about Romania on the occasion of its National Day on Decem- ber 1.
  As it celebrates its fifth National Day after its defeat of 
communism, Romania remains committed to joining the West as a modern 
democratic state.
  Romania demonstrated its early desire to join the West by being the 
first Central European nation to join the Partnership for Peace [PFP], 
officially joining the program on January 26, 1994. Since then, Romania 
has had far more bilateral military exchanges with the United States 
than any other PFP nation. Likewise, the United States commitment to 
joint training with Romania's Armed Forces has grown in size and 
complexity. Romanian troops have participated in NATO exercises in 
Europe and in the United States, most recently in Fort Polk, LA.
  Since emerging from a Communist dictatorship in 1990, Romania has 
demonstrated in significant ways its commitment to becoming a strong 
ally of the United States. The Romania-United States military-to-
military cooperation program is one of the strongest in central Europe.
  In 1990, Romania chaired the United Nations Security Council during 
the debate over the invasion of Kuwait. In that capacity, Romania 
helped lead efforts to authorize military intervention and impose 
economic sanctions against Iraq--despite costing its developing economy 
billions of dollars. Furthermore, Romania sent a military medical unit 
to Kuwait as a part of Operation Desert Storm and a medical battalion 
to Somalia in concert with the United States-led peacekeeping mission 
there. More recently, Romania has been at the forefront of support to 
peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia by offering logistical support to NATO 
forces.
  Mr. Speaker, the fall of the Iron Curtain has brought great promise 
to the people of Central and Eastern Europe while posing great 
challenges to the governments of these once Communist countries. On the 
occasion of its National Day, I congratulate Romania for its 
accomplishments over the short 5 years since its democratization began 
and I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Romania well as it 
continues to meet its political, military, and economic challenges.

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