Embassy Press Release

Remarks Delivered By Chargé d’Affaires Jeri Guthrie-Corn On The Occasion Of The Launch Of The Second Edition Of The Textbook On The History Of Communism In Romania

Chargé d'Affaires, Jeri Guthrie-Corn (Right), offering her remarks at the launch of the textbook A History of Communism in Romania. Bucharest, April 6, 2009 (Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office)

Colegiul National Gheorghe Lazar, Bucuresti
- as prepared for delivery -

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I attend this official launch of the second edition of the textbook A History of Communism in Romania. The United States Government is proud to be a sponsor of this excellent work by six dedicated historians. I have read the first edition with great interest.

As many of you know, I was first in Bucharest in 1989 until 1991. I witnessed first-hand the last six months of the Ceausescu regime and its horrible impact on this beautiful country. I saw the courage of the Romanian people as they took back their freedom after more than 40 years of dictatorship. I will never forget those days of heroism.

I was the first in our Embassy to see the articles about this project in the press last fall, and I was immediately determined to engage the Embassy in this fine endeavor. I met with one of the authors and after having read the book, sought support from our American Cultural Center for the project. This is the only such book and high school course in the region. Romania should be proud of the Institute’s initiative in teaching about this country’s recent past, a past that in many ways is no longer visible but one that makes a big difference in the lives of the young generation now compared to their parents’ experience. Beyond the usual generation gap, here there was also a history gap.

This book and the DVD are the most impressive development I have encountered in the New Romania. As a former university professor, as a friend of Romania, I commend the Institute and authors for their contribution to democracy in Romania.

More photos:

Chargé d'Affaires, Jeri Guthrie-Corn, offering her remarks at the launch of the textbook A History of Communism in Romania. Bucharest, April 6, 2009 (Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office)

Chargé d'Affaires, Jeri Guthrie-Corn, shows the Honorable Diploma received from the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes in Romania. Mrs. Jeri Guthrie-Corn was awarded for supporting the development of educational programs concerning the history of the communist regime in Romania and its consequences, thus encouraging civil and democratic values among the young Romanian generation. Bucharest, April 6, 2009 (Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office)

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