New Emerson facility is "a symbol of US contribution to Romania's economic development"

Ambassador Nicholas Taubman joined local political and business leaders in Cluj-Napoca on April 15 to celebrate the Grand Opening of Emerson’s new engineering design and production facilities. The state-of-the-art complex, which will eventually employ more than 2,000 workers in four separate plants, will design and produce gas valves and regulator devices, electrical engines, generators, and power tools. The Ambassador congratulated Emerson for bringing such an impressive facility to Romania, and hailed the opening as symbolic of the dynamic contribution that American investment is making to Romania’s economic development.

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Thirty-seven sworn in as new Peace Corps Volunteers

In a ceremony held on May 5, 37 new Peace Corps Volunteers who will serve in Romania for the next two years were sworn in by Ambassador Taubman. The new Volunteers just completed 10 weeks of training in Ploiesti, where they studied Romanian language, history and culture and lived with Romanian host families. There are currently 135 volunteers working in 40 counties across the country. Since its beginning in 1991, over 850 Volunteers have supported 4 program sectors: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Community Economic Development, Institutional Development and Environmental Management and Education.

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Mixing it up on the court: For teenagers of Constanta and American Seabees game is about much more than the score

Students of the high school “Mircea cel Batran” in Constanta challenged the American Seabees of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 stationed at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base to a unique basketball game. To raise money to aid a sick colleague, the students sold tickets to the game and collected donations from the many Romanian and the American spectators who attended. "We thought that is a noble cause, a good thing if we can help someone. The soldiers were proud to be part of such event,” said the Seabees' spokesperson Alina Savu. A Romanian player added, "We are not trying to see how good they (the Seabees) are at basketball but in their hearts and how much they wanted to play. And they were very good. We could have not done raised the money without them."

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Romanian Olympian recalls her gold metal race in Sydney

"In a 5,000-meters race, it’s only in the last 200 meters that you start to count your steps." As an Olympic competitor in 1996 and 2000, Romanian runner Gabriela Szabo won bronze, silver, and gold medals. In April 2008 eJournal USA, an electronic journal published by the US Department of State, she joined other Olympians in recalling important moments in their Olympic careers. For her it was her victory in the 5000-meter at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and her hopes for other children to succeed in sports.

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Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security Visits Romania for Talks on Visa Waiver Program

On April 17 Dr. Richard C. Barth, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy Development in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security met with Minister of Interior and Administrative Reform Cristian David and other officials in his Ministry, as well as officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss Romania’s progress towards meeting the criteria for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. Dr. Barth’s visit is a part of the continuing dialogue between the U.S. and Romanian Governments about the Visa Waiver Program.

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Ambassador reviews the NATO Summit on national public radio

One week after the NATO Summit ended in Bucharest, Ambassador Taubman spoke about the importance of the Summit and commented on progress made in Romania in other areas. In a live interview with the national public radio, Radio Romania Actualitati, also pointed out some of the subjects discussed during the Summit - U.S. – Russia relations, the missile defense shield, and Kosovo issue. Radio Romania Actualitati is the second most popular radio station in the country and is the one station that can be heard in every village in the country. The interview was aired during daily program “Sfertul Academic” (Academic Quarter), the longest running show on the public radio.

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"Good fences make good neighbors" - Seabees build friendships across fences

Contrary to poet Robert Frost’s Mending Wall, Seabees in Constanta have found that building a good fence has created a good friendship. On April 14, the Seabees from Mihail Koganiceanu Air Base and Kindergarten 46’s administrator cut a ribbon to symbolically inaugurate a renovation project, including a new fence and landscaping, designed to make the school in Constanta safer and more attractive. The reconstruction was made possible through funds from the US Embassy in Bucharest, the hard work of the Seabees, and the collaboration of the kindergarten staff. Kindergarten 46 Director Elena Teodorescu thanked to the Americans for their support. “We saw each other every day here and we became friends,” she said, referring to the relationship between the American Seabees, teachers and children.

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Ambassador offers portraits of Romania’s King and Queen on Monarchy Day

On Saturday, May 10, Romania’s Royal House celebrated Monarchy Day at the Elisabeta Palace in Bucharest, in a ceremony that marked the unveiling of the portraits of King Mihai and Queen Anne, offered as personal gift by Ambassador and Mrs. Taubman. The portraits were painted by American artist Nelson Shanks in June 2007. In his speech, Ambassador Taubman spoke about the role played by King Michael in Romania’s history, his contribution to the Allies’ victory in World War II and his role in saving of Jews and Roma from the extermination camps in the 1940s.

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U.S. Airmen augmented Romanian security for NATO summit

475 airmen from across U.S. Air Forces in Europe converged on locations throughout the continent to support Operation Noble Endeavor, a Romanian-led effort to police the sky above the NATO summit in Bucharest. Over 350 members of the U.S. 404 Air Expeditionary Group camped for almost a month at Air Base 71 in Luna (Campia Turzii), after building a temporary “tent city.” The U.S. Air Force augmented the security at Romania's request. In addition to their air forces, the Romanians provided air traffic control, airspace expertise and command authority. "This is just one example in a long list of accomplishments of NATO nations working together toward a common purpose," said Col. Peter Davidson, the 323rd AEW commander. "There is great strength in allied interoperability, and I'm proud to be a part of this mission."

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Peace Corps Romania

“In the beginning I had no idea that working with a Peace Corps Volunteer can be so fulfilling. It made our village hall work better. It made us achieve more and it made our lives more interesting. I will always be grateful for such a colleague and friend.” Cornel Popa, Mayor of Hasmas.

Peace Corps Romania began operations in 1991. There are currently 135 volunteers working in 40 counties across the country. Since 1991, over 850 Volunteers have supported 4 program sectors. Today, Peace Corps Romania programs work to assist Romania’s development needs through sharing Volunteer skills and knowledge in four programs: Institutional Development, Community Economic Development, Environment, and Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

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