October 10, 2007

Embassy Press Release

Romanian - American Partnership – a Model of Success

On October 9, 2007, at the Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom, about 300 people participated in the event concluding the United States of America’s development assistance program to Romania. The event was a celebration of the many successes Romanians achieved during seventeen years of partnership with American experts and advisors in order to build a free market economy and a democratic society. The Celebration was honored by the presence of H.E. Adrian Cioroianu, Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Nicholas F. Taubman, Ambassador of the United States of America; H.E. Henrietta H. Fore, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Acting Director of the United States Foreign Assistance, all of whom gave remarks.

Beneficiaries of USAID programs such as Mr. Cristian Ispas, Executive Director Special Olympics Romania and General Manager Motivation Romania Foundation; Mr. Ionut Sibian, Executive Director, Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC), and Mr. Valeriu Steriu, Vice President of LaDorna Co. and President of the Romanian Dairy Industry Association spoke about the role that U.S. assistance played in their programs and thanked the American people for their generosity. Nadia Comaneci, Vice-President of the Special Olympics International Board, in a recorded message, congratulated Special Olympics Romania for its success and thanked the United States for supporting the Special Olympics movement in Romania.

US Ambassador Nicholas Taubman (L), USAID Acting Administrator Henrietta Fore (C) and Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Adrian Cioroianu (R) at the reception on the occasion of the closeout of the US Agency for International Development – Mission to Romania, October 9, 2007, Bucharest.

After the speeches, Ms. Debra Mosel, Acting Director of the United States Agency for International Development in Romania read the letter from President George W. Bush to President Traian Basescu. President Bush congratulated the Romanian people on the successful conclusion of the assistance program administered by USAID and said that the American people will continue to support the strengthening of the Romanian institutions and economy.

Representatives of international donors, implementers and beneficiaries of the USAID programs, members of the U.S. Embassy staff, current and former USAID staff, and numerous representatives of the media attended the celebration.

Since 1990, the American people, through USAID, have provided over $ 600 million for bilateral development assistance. Initially, the funds were used primarily for emergency food supplies and the rehabilitation of the economy that collapsed immediately after the revolution. Since 1993, Romanians have used the U.S. assistance to implement ambitious economic, democratic and social programs to accelerate the country’s transition to a democratic, market based economy and to improve the quality of life of all Romanians.

"With aid from the American people and the bold vision of our Romanian partners, in both the private and non-governmental sectors, as well as in the government, huge achievements have been made” – said Henrietta Fore. “In coming years, I have no doubt that the U.S. and Romania will continue to collaborate in other ways to promote democracy and economic growth in the region and elsewhere around the world."

Though the development assistance phase concludes, the bilateral relationship between Romania and the United States of America remains strong and will continue in the future.

For additional information please contact:
Cecilia Moise, USAID
Tel: (021) 316-1222

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