[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 111 (Thursday, July 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES-ROMANIAN 
                         STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 11, 2007

  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, as co-chair of the Romanian Caucus, I rise 
today to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the launch of the United 
States-Romanian strategic partnership.
  In 1997 the United States and Romania established a strategic 
partnership resulting in close cooperation and consultations on all 
issues of common interest, particularly: NATO policies; promoting 
stability and security in Southeastern Europe, combating non-
traditional threats; military and economic reforms in Romania and its 
region.
  After ten years, we look back at the remarkable vision that inspired 
this unprecedented course in the development of the relations between 
the United States and Romania.
  With utmost determination and U.S. support, Romania has since grown 
to what is today a trustworthy ally of the United States and one the 
most respectable and reliable contributors to global security. Romania 
is a member of NATO and of the European Union, an active player in the 
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and a 
significant voice at the UN and in other international and regional 
organizations at the Black Sea and in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
  Romania has committed to a wide scale set of reforms internally, in 
its economic, social, justice and administrative sectors. Romania's 
achievements over the past ten years in its comprehensive internal 
reforms not only have prompted the country to NATO and EU membership, 
but serves as a great example of successful transformation to modernity 
and progress.
  This transformation has yielded significant benefits mostly to the 
Romanian people but also to the Western community and to the 
transatlantic alliance. Next year in April, Romania will be the host of 
the NATO Summit, an event of critical importance to the alliance's 
shape and future. Romania has proved its capability to sustain long 
term commitments, along with its Western allies, in the fight against 
terrorism and organized crime.
  At the same time, Romania has been an active promoter of tolerance 
and understanding among ethnic and religious communities. The recent 
OSCE high level conference on combating discrimination and other forms 
of intolerance, in Bucharest last June, has had a significant impact on 
maintaining the public commitment to respecting the most profound human 
values at the OSCE level. Romania also has taken meaningful steps 
towards assuming its own painful past through public education about, 
and remembrance of, the Holocaust.
  We must all be proud of these accomplishments that were in large part 
inspired by the vision of a partnership laid out ten years ago. We also 
must affirm our duty to continue to build on this growing relation. It 
is this kind of partnership that continues to give us the power to 
overcome global challenges.
  At this anniversary moment, we must acknowledge the indispensable 
contribution of the citizens of Romania, and of the Romanian American 
community to the successful development of our partnership. I 
congratulate the Romanian people and all its political leaders for 
their unwavering commitment to building such a strong mutual relation 
with the United States of America.

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