Embassy Press Release

REMARKS OF AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS F. TAUBMAN ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF NATO

Bucharest, April 4, 2007
American Cultural Center
- as delivered -

First of all, I would like to thank President Basescu and Prime Minister Tariceanu for what they said today on NATO. We appreciate their remarks and they were to the point.

Thank you very much for joining me today as we mark an important anniversary, one which I believe is particularly relevant for the United States and for Romania.

Last week, we commemorated the signing of the Treaties of Rome, which fifty years ago helped set the stage for Europe’s post-war recovery, both economically and politically.

Today, we mark the signing of the Washington Treaty that created NATO in 1949. The founders of the Alliance stated that they were “determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.” They sought to promote stability and well-being in the region, and to unite the efforts of the new Allies for collective defense and for the preservation of peace and security.

Today, more than half a century later, NATO continues to protect the freedom of Europeans and Americans and to help preserve peace and stability beyond the Alliance’s borders.

Unfortunately, Romania was not among the signatories when the Washington Treaty was concluded 1949. The end of the Cold War, along with the firm determination of Romanians, have righted this historical injustice. Romanians, with the help of your friends in North America and elsewhere in Europe, have placed Romania firmly within the most important alliance in history, in a Europe increasingly whole and free.

Romania’s membership in NATO and in the EU marks the success of our common objective of linking this great country to its European neighbors and to the transatlantic community as a whole. It is the work of generations, and if we are wise, it will serve for many generations to come. Romania’s future success as an ally and partner in these two premier organizations is something that we all need to nurture and to support – today, tomorrow, and in the years to come. NATO is about shared values, a shared commitment to democratic principles. NATO is also about common obligations and responsibilities – otherwise there is no enduring peace or liberty.

As in 1949, we face a difficult world with complex challenges. Since the threat is a global one, NATO has responded by transforming itself into an alliance with worldwide reach and influence. This Alliance must be ready to defend itself in this new century, including against extremists who follow a hateful ideology and who are willing to kill innocents anywhere to pursue their objectives. NATO has no more serious and steadfast a member than Romania. That’s one reason I’m so proud to serve as U.S. Ambassador here.

Romania is in the middle of a vigorous political debate about its future. But let us agree, together, that there are some things which must transcend the issues of the day. My hope is that one of them will be our shared commitment, as Romanians and as Americans, to NATO and the Trans-Atlantic link. Thank you.

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