RSS
Incoming U.S. Charge d'affaires a.i. Dean Thompson meets Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean
Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlatean on Tuesday received Dean Thompson, incoming Charge d'affaires ad-interim at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, on an introductory visit.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, after the meeting the Romanian Minister assured the American diplomat of his Ministry's full support during his tenure in Bucharest. Also attending were current head of the U.S. diplomatic mission Duane Butcher, who is ending his term in Romania.
The agenda of talks focused on developments under the Strategic Partnership and the situation in Romania's immediate vicinity and the wider Black Sea region.
'The exchange of opinions highlighted the excellent and privileged stage of bilateral relations, the dynamic nature of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States, as well as the significant growth potential thereof,' shows the Foreign Ministry release.
The same source notes that Minister Titus Corlatean highlighted the substantial high-level bilateral political dialogue in the last period, materialized in a series of significant meetings and visits, such as the visit to Bucharest of U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and that of U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and of important members of the U.S. Congress.
The Romanian chief diplomat voiced appreciation for the political-military and security measures adopted by the U.S. and NATO to ensure the collective defense and the security of Romania in the current regional context.
The Foreign Minister also reviewed the milestones of the bilateral dialogue envisaged for the second half of the year, highlighting the third Annual Economic mission to Bucharest of the American-Romanian Business Council (AMRO), which is of relevance for boosting the economic dimension of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the U.S., as well as the meeting of the Task Force responsible for the implementation of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the United States.
As concerns the stage of the joint strategic projects, the sides expressed appreciation for the very good cooperation at the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, which has a major role in the transit of U.S. and Allied forces toward and from Afghanistan.
At the same meeting on Tuesday the participants hailed the implementation as per the agreed schedule of the missile defense system in Deveselu, which is due to become operational in 2015.
Other subjects approached during talks were the goal of having Romania included in the Visa Waiver Program within the shortest time possible, as well as the need to have a U.S. Ambassador appointed to Bucharest as soon as possible.
The developments in the Western Balkans and in the wider Black Sea region came under special attention in the new security environment, in the light of the upcoming NATO summit due in the UK this September and amid the recent notable developments registered in the dialogue of partner countries in the region with the European Union.
In this context, the sides welcomed the signing by the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia of the Association Agreements with the European Union, an important moment in the materialization of the European aspirations of the three states.
Minister Titus Corlatean expressed satisfaction at the Republic of Moldova enjoying increased attention from the U.S. and highlighted the importance of promoting common bilateral projects in support of the European roadmap of this close partner, a target strongly supported by the Romanian authorities, stresses the cited release.