[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31282]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                                ROMANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chair of the Romanian Caucus, I rise 
today to enter into the record remarks in support of Romania. Mr. 
Speaker, the Heads of State and Government participating in the 
Istanbul Summit will designate the Chairman-in-Office of the 
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the year 2001.
  Romania has been fostering support for its candidacy since 1996, when 
President Emil Constantinescu announced his country's bid for the OSCE 
Chair in 2001. Romania enjoys U.S. support and has succeeded to build 
consensus around its candidacy among full OSCE members. Romania will be 
entrusted to chair the OSCE in 2001, and it will join Austria and 
Norway in the OSCE Troika, starting January 2000.
  The United States and Romania in 1997, 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. Romania has also been a key supporter of U.S. and NATO policy 
in the Kosovo crisis, assisting the U.S. and NATO in actions meant to 
bring stability to the Balkans.
  Romania's government and Parliament approved without reservation 
overflight rights for NATO aircraft at the height of the Kosovo 
conflict. Romania is among the regional countries which observes the 
embargo against Former Republic Yugoslavia, despite significant costs. 
Romania has proven to be a reliable partner of the U.S. and NATO and is 
consistent in improving its credentials for future integration with 
NATO. All Romanian political forces, as well as a large majority of the 
people, support the goals of integration with NATO and the EU. In 
December 1999, Romania will host the Southeast European Defense 
Ministerial (SEDM), in which the United States participates.
  Within this framework, Romania takes part in efforts to 
operationalize the Southeast European Multinational Peace Force, the 
first ever attempt at peaceful military cooperation in the region. 
Romania is the Chairman in Office of the Southeast European Cooperation 
Process and, as such, has been instrumental in promoting joint 
positions and actions of countries neighboring Serbia.
  Active participants in the U.S.-supported Southeast European 
Cooperative Initiative (SECI), Romania has lead the efforts to conclude 
a regional Agreement for the fight against transborder crime and 
corruption which was signed in Bucharest, on 26 May 1999. Romania hosts 
the SECI Regional Center for the fight against transborder crime and 
corruption. The Center was inaugurated on 16 November 1999 and acts as 
a critical instrument for promoting a healthy business climate in 
Southeastern Europe, combating non-traditional threats and transborder 
crime.
  Therefore, it is suggested that: The United States Congress expresses 
support for Romania's nomination as OSCE Chair in 2001 and readiness to 
cooperate with Romania in the exercise of the resulting 
responsibilities. The United States Congress looks forward to sending a 
large delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Romania, in July 
2000. The United States Congress acknowledges and highlights Romania's 
relevance as a regional role-model for inter-ethnic cooperation, steady 
evolution towards mature democracy as well as decisive efforts towards 
a functioning market economy, against the background of difficult 
challenges of the reform process.
  The United States Congress encourages an enhancement of U.S.-Romanian 
Strategic Partnership, in order to enable Romania to perform as 
Chairman in Office of the OSCE and to exercise effectively its OSCE 
area, which includes the Euro-Atlantic as well as Eurasian space. The 
United States Congress expresses openness to expand inter-parliamentary 
links with the Romanian legislature, in order to help promote the 
achievement of common goals and interest.

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