FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Since
December 1989, Romania has actively pursued a policy of strengthening
relations with the West in general, more specifically with the
U.S. and the European Union. Romania was a helpful partner to
the allied forces during the first Gulf War, particularly during
its service as president of the UN Security Council. Romania has
been active in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, UNAVEM
in Angola, IFOR/SFOR in Bosnia, KFOR in Kosovo, and in Albania.
Romania also offered important logistical support to allied military
operations in Iraq in 2003 and, after the cessation of organized
hostilities, has been participating in security and reconstruction
activities. Romania is a member of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which it chaired in 2001.
Romania
was the first country to enroll in the NATO Partnership for Peace
program. NATO member states invited Romania to join the Alliance
in 2002, based on Romania's rapid progress in modernizing its
armed forces and its contributions to allied peacekeeping and
other military operations. Romania officially became a member
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004 after
depositing its instruments of treaty ratification in Washington,
DC. In 1996, Romania signed and ratified a basic bilateral treaty
with Hungary that settled outstanding issues and laid the foundation
for closer, more cooperative relations. In June 1997, Romania
signed a bilateral treaty with Ukraine that resolved certain territorial
and minority issues, among others. Romania also signed a basic
bilateral treaty with Russia in July 2003.
Romania hosted President Bush's final NATO Summit April 2-4, 2008. The venue symbolized the expansion of the Alliance from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and set new goals for years to come.
Romania acceded to the European Union on January 1, 2007 along with Bulgaria, bringing the number of EU states to 27. Romania is a strong advocate for a "larger Europe," encouraging other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet sphere to integrate into both NATO and the EU.
Romania has been actively involved in regional organizations, such as the Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI) and the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, and has been a positive force in supporting stability and cooperation in the area.
Romania maintains good diplomatic relations with Israel and was supportive of the Middle East peace negotiations initiated after the Gulf conflict in 1991. Romania also is a founding member of the Black Sea Consortium for Economic Development. It joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 1972, and is a member of the World Trade Organization.
Romanian
Missions in the United States
Embassy of Romania
1607 23rd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel. 202-232-3694, fax: 202-232-4748
Romanian
Mission to the UN
573 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Tel. 212-682-3273
Romanian
National Tourist Office
573 Third Avenue
New York, NW 10016
Tel. 212-697-6971
Romanian
Cultural Center
200 E. 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel. 212-687-0180
DEFENSE
In accordance with the December 1991 Romanian constitution, the Romanian armed forces have the defensive mission of ensuring the territorial integrity of the country. The military enjoys popular support, partly because of its role in supporting the December 1989 revolution. The army is the largest service. Romania has an all-volunteer military force; conscription ended in 2007. The Romanian armed forces have about 75,000 military personnel and 15,000 civilians, for a total of 90,000 men and women. Out of these 75,000, about 45,800 are in the Land Forces. In 1993, the U.S. military began training of Romanian military and civilian officials through IMET and other exchange programs, emphasizing civilian democratic control over the military.
U.S.-ROMANIAN
RELATIONS
Cold during the early post-war period, U.S. bilateral relations with Romania began to improve in the early 1960s with the signing of an agreement providing for partial settlement of American property claims. Cultural, scientific, and educational exchanges were initiated, and in 1964 the legations of both nations were promoted to full embassies.
Responding to Ceausescu's calculated distancing of Romania from Soviet foreign policy, particularly Romania's continued diplomatic relations with Israel and denunciation of the 1968 Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia, President Nixon paid an official visit to Romania in August 1969. Despite political differences, high-level contacts continued between U.S. and Romanian leaders throughout the decade of the 1970s, culminating in the 1978 state visit to Washington by President and Mrs. Ceausescu.
In 1972, a consular convention to facilitate protection of citizens and their property in both countries was signed. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) facilities were granted, and Romania became eligible for U.S. Export-Import Bank credits.
A trade agreement signed in April 1975 accorded Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to Romania under section 402 of the Trade Reform Act of 1974 (the Jackson-Vanik amendment that links MFN to a country's performance on emigration). This status was renewed yearly after Congressional review of a presidential determination that Romania was making progress toward freedom of emigration.
In the mid-1980s, criticism of Romania's deteriorating human rights record, particularly regarding mistreatment of religious and ethnic minorities, spurred attempts by Congress to withdraw MFN status. In 1988, to preempt Congressional action, Ceausescu renounced MFN treatment, calling Jackson-Vanik and other human rights requirements unacceptable interference in Romanian sovereignty.
After welcoming the revolution of December 1989 with a visit by Secretary of State Baker in February 1990, the U.S. Government expressed concern that opposition parties had faced discriminatory treatment in the May 1990 elections, when the National Salvation Front won a sweeping victory. The slow progress of subsequent political and economic reform increased that concern, and relations with Romania cooled sharply after the June 1990 intervention of the miners in University Square. Anxious to cultivate better relations with the U.S. and Europe, and disappointed at the poor results from its gradualist economic reform strategy, the Stolojan government undertook some economic reforms and conducted free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections in September 1992. Encouraged by the conduct of local elections in February 1992, Deputy Secretary of State Eagleburger paid a visit in May 1992. Congress restored MFN in November 1993 in recognition of Romania's progress in instituting political and economic reform. In 1996, the U.S. Congress voted to extend permanent MFN graduation to Romania.
As Romania's policies became unequivocally pro-Western, the United States moved to deepen relations. President Clinton visited Bucharest in 1997. The two countries initiated cooperation on shared goals, including economic and political development, defense reform, and non-traditional threats (such as trans-border crime and non-proliferation).
Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Romania has been fully
supportive of the U.S. in the Global War on Terror. Romania was invited to join
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in November 2002 and formally
joined NATO on March 29, 2004 after depositing its instruments of treaty
ratification in Washington, DC. President Bush helped commemorate Romania's NATO
accession when he visited Bucharest in November 2002. On that occasion he
congratulated the Romanian people on building democratic institutions and a
market economy following the fall of communism. Romanian troops serve alongside
U.S. troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In March 2005, President Traian Basescu made his first official visit to Washington to meet with President Bush, Secretary of State Rice, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, and other senior U.S. officials. In December 2005, Secretary Rice visited Bucharest to meet with President Basescu and to sign a bilateral defense cooperation agreement that will allow for the joint use of Romanian military facilities by U.S. troops. The first proof of principle exercise took place at Mihail-Kogalniceanu Air Base from August to October 2007.
President Bush held separate bilateral meetings with both President Basescu and Prime Minister Tariceanu during his NATO Summit visit in 2008. Secretary Rice and Defense Secretary Gates were also in attendance.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Nicholas Frank Taubman
Deputy Chief of Mission--Mark A. Taplin
Public Affairs Officer--Judith Moon
Consul General--Bryan Dalton
Political Section Chief--Theodore Tanoue
Economic Section Chief--Blair LaBarge
Defense Attache--Colonel Barbara Kuennecke
Commercial Section Chief--Cynthia Biggs
Management Counselor--Jennifer Bonner
USAID Mission Director--Deborah Mosel
Peace Corps Director--Jim Ekstrom
The U.S. Embassy in Romania is located at Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest (tel. 40-21 200-3300, fax 40-21 200-3442, consular fax 40-21 200-3381).
