Embassy Press Release

REMARKS OF US AMBASSADOR NICHOLAS TAUBMAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE SNIPER LANCE EXERCISE

May 3, 2007

Prime Minister Tariceanu,
Minister of Defense Melescanu,
Admiral Marin,
Secretary Dobritoiu,
General Bishop,

It is with great pleasure that I address you on the occasion of this exercise “Sniper Lance.” It is another opportunity to salute the great cooperation between our two countries. I also must acknowledge the extraordinary partnership and friendship of Romania, and the remarkable and praiseworthy contributions it has made to advance the trans-Atlantic partnership.

We have developed a strong respect for Romania’s contributions to a wide range of missions over the years, from its deployments to the Western Balkans, to standing side-by-side with US forces as part of the Coalition operating in Iraq, to the most impressive contribution to date, Romanian forces not just operating in Afghanistan, but taking on a leadership role there.

On behalf of the United States of America – and I am positive this feeling runs throughout the NATO Alliance – we thank and appreciate the significant commitment Romania has made to secure international peace and to fulfill its role within the North Atlantic Alliance.

I feel especially fortunate, because I believe the US-Romanian security and defense partnership is second to none. It is a testament to this great partnership that the United States has placed its soldiers under Romanian command in Afghanistan, where Romania continues to receive accolades for its outstanding performance under the toughest battle conditions.

Romania understands intuitively what many older NATO Allies are still trying to understand, and that is it is within the framework of our partnership to promote our trans-Atlantic values not just in words, but in real deeds that have made a significant difference to provide peace and security – and to advance freedom and human rights – across the globe.

Romania has demonstrated real-world and real-time faithfulness to its NATO commitments. This demonstrates a seriousness about the way ahead for the Alliance -- and by extension the European Union – and hopes for the Black Sea Region in particular, but for international peace in general. We have full confidence that the Alliance will continue to progress and build upon what was started nearly 58 years ago when the North Atlantic Alliance was formed – and made permanent the notion that the security of the United States and the security of Europe is indivisible.

Together – there is nothing the United States and its European Allies cannot accomplish. Together the United States and Romania will continue to strengthen the foundations for peace and security both within the Alliance and beyond.

This exercise, Sniper Lance, builds on that foundation today. Sniper Lance represents the first recognizable presence of U.S. forces in Romania. It represents a guidepost for the continuing transformation of our strategic partnership and friendship as engraved in our Cooperation Agreement.

During this important year, when we hope to sign the sub-agreements that will allow us to seamlessly execute our bilateral agreements, we continue to establish a new tradition of friendship and cooperation.

Thank you and best of luck.

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