[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 146 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING ROMANIA'S GREAT UNION DAY AND ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                              INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 3, 2014

  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, as President of the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization Parliamentary Assembly and co-Chairman Congressional 
Romania Caucus, I congratulate Romania on its Great Union Day, 
celebrating the anniversary of its unification on December 1, 1918, and 
its 25th anniversary of independence following the fall of communism.
  Romania is a stalwart U.S. and NATO ally. Romania and the United 
States work closely together to confront a host of global challenges, 
including through our joint efforts to bolster regional defense, halt 
nuclear proliferation, and increase energy security. For example, the 
Permanent Forward Operating Site at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base not 
only enables a vital U.S. forward presence in the region, but also 
provides essential opportunities for joint training with NATO allies. 
With the signing of the U.S.-Romania Ballistic Missile Defense 
Agreement in September 2011, Romania established itself as a key 
strategic partner in NATO's emerging missile defense capabilities 
effort. The Missile Defense Interceptor site at Deveselu Air Base near 
the Bulgarian border will provide missile defense protection to our 
allies in Europe and the Middle East.
  Tragically, ongoing events in Ukraine are unsettling the region and 
testing the transatlantic alliance. As you know, Russia seeks to once 
again destabilize much of Eastern Europe and restore influence over 
territories lost following the collapse of the Soviet Union. That is 
why it is critically important for the United States, Romania, and 
other European allies to continue to work together to strengthen the 
transatlantic alliance and bolster regional security.
  The strategic partnership between the United States and Romania has 
greatly advanced our common interests in promoting transatlantic and 
regional security and free market opportunities, and should continue to 
foster greater economic and cultural exchanges, trade and investment, 
and social contacts.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in celebrating 
Romania's Great Union Day and its 25th anniversary of independence 
since the fall of communism.

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