[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 111 (Monday, September 11, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO SORIN DUCARU

  Mr.BROWNBACK. I commend the Romanian Ambassador to the United States 
for his service as a diplomat, a civil leader, a transatlantic thinker, 
and a friend of the United States.
  Sorin Ducaru has served as Romania's principal diplomatic spokesman 
for the last 5 years. He played a key role in the Romanian Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs as the first head of the Division for NATO and 
Strategic Issues and was deeply involved in events leading to Romania's 
membership in NATO--ratified with the unanimous support of the U.S. 
Senate.
  Once Romania joined NATO, Ambassador Ducaru was a part of the 
Romanian team that helped pave the way for the establishment of U.S. 
military facilities in Romania. The agreement was signed in 2005, 
ratified this past summer, and is currently in its implementation 
phase.
  On this fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in particular, it is 
important to recall our partners in the war on terrorism. In 2001, just 
days after 9/11 terrorist attacks, Ambassador Ducaru helped facilitate 
Romanian-American political dialogue that resulted in Romania's offer 
to put its military and logistical facilities, air corridors, and 
troops at the disposal of the United States in the war on terrorism. 
Even before Romania was a NATO member, it participated with troops and 
logistical support in the war on terrorism. Now, Romania is the fifth 
largest contributor of troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  Ambassador Ducaru has been a strong supporter of Romania's 
participation in the process of democratic and economic reconstruction 
of Afghanistan and Iraq, pointing to the lessons learned of his own 
country's dramatic and sometimes painful transformations in the last 16 
years. He has been a constant advocate of cooperation between American 
businesses and the business potential of coalition countries.
  His support for democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq is not surprising 
because Ambassador Ducaru is a long-time advocate of democratic values. 
He is a member of the new generation of leaders that transformed 
Romania to an open free society following the revolution of 1989. He 
has been at the forefront of a new generation of Central European 
leaders whose countries have evolved from nondemocratic and closed 
societies to countries that preserve freedom, security, and economic 
opportunity.
  As he departs his current post to become the Romanian Ambassador to 
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, I express my gratitude for his 
efforts to build a strong and vibrant relationship between Romania and 
the United States. I look forward to working with him to continue 
efforts to expand political, diplomatic, economic, and military 
cooperation and stability through NATO. Ambassador Ducaru is a true 
friend of the United States, and I wish him well in his new capacity.

                          ____________________