RSS
Highlights of the visit of the US Vice President Joe Biden to Bucharest
The Vice President of the United States has arrived in Bucharest on Tuesday, May 20, for a two-day visit. The American official has arrived in Romania together with his wife Jill Biden. He was welcomed at the airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlatean. Joe Biden then went to Otopeni 90 Air Base, where he was received by Romanian Defence Minister Mircea Dusa. In the speech delivered to the Romanian and US military, he highlighted that Romania has always been a trustworthy partner and ally for the US.
* 'It is an honour to watch our troops carrying out this exercise together. The last time I saw them working together was in Afghanistan,' the US Vice President Joe Biden stated on the occasion of a joint Romanian-American exercises organised at the 90th military base. 'It is to our both countries great benefit to fight together,' he said. Romania has always been a reliable partner and ally for the US, pointed out the US Vice President. 'It is clear for us that the Romanians are devoted allies and I have never doubted it as far back as efforts were being made for Romania to join the NATO. You have always been reliable partners,' said the American official, giving as an example the servicemen that fight in the theatres of operations.
* 'Currently Romania helps us with the air base which supports our effort for transport to Afghanistan. Romania works for increasing the budget to 2 percent of the GDP and this should come true. I think you are the best generation of combatants your country has produced. You can rely on us. As President Obama put it, the NATO nations are never alone,' emphasized the US Vice-President, who also thanked the US troops for their service.
* 'The aggression in Crimea less than 250 km away from the Romanian territory, from the NATO border, reminds us why we need the NATO and why Romania belonged to the NATO. By what Russia did, it violated not only Ukraine's sovereignty, but also the fundamental principle for which we fought in the 20th century and which we thought we had clearly established: the borders of Europe must never be changed with the force of arms any more. This is why we go on condemning the illegal occupation of Crimea by Russia, said Biden. He added that if Russia's action meant to destabilize Ukraine continued, high costs would be imposed on Russia. But our strategy is more than imposing costs. It is to invest and revitalize the NATO,' added the American official.
* The Vice President of the United States said he will miss Romanian President Traian Basescu after the end of the latter's term. Speaking at a joint press statement with Basescu at the Presidential Palace of Cotroceni on Wednesday, May 21, Biden declared he wanted to tell the president personally that he will miss him, as he knows that Basescu's term ends before his own.
* Visiting US Vice President Joe Biden said he appreciates Romanian President Traian Basescu's efforts to protect the rule of law state in Romania and added the fight against corruption is not only a matter of good governance, it is 'mere' patriotism. In a joint press statement with Basescu at the presidential Cotroceni Palace, Biden said corruption sucks from the power of the nation. 'It is, in fact, another form of tyranny and the fight against corruption is not only a matter of good governance, it is mere patriotism. Mr President, we appreciate your personal efforts to consolidate and protect the rule of law state here, in Romania. It is important for your economy, for your democracy and particularly for your freedom. Above all it is important for the lives of the citizens, who have the right to know that their voices can be heard by the government, that their firms can compete without bribery, that disputes can be judged in court transparently and that no Romanian, and no American, as a matter of fact, is above the law.'
* The US Vice President Joe Biden stated that one of the main reasons for his visit to Romania is so that he can affirm from Romanian soil that the USA will honor article five of the NATO treaty, adding that it is a sacred obligation. 'One of the main reasons for which I came here was so that I could stand on Romanian soil and from Romanian soil say what cannot be repeated enough. We will honor article 5 of the NATO Treaty, it is a sacred obligation, have no doubt regarding that. No NATO ally stands alone, we protect each other plain and simple. Period,' said Biden during the joint statement with President Traian Basescu that was given in the garden of Cotroceni Palace.
* If Russia undermines the elections in Ukraine, it must be applied stronger sanction, visiting US Vice President Joe Biden told a joint press conference with President Traian Basescu. Biden said the European states, and not only, should create a positive climate in order for Ukraine's citizens to be able to freely vote at the May 25 elections. 'All European countries, all countries must use their influence to create a positive climate in order for Ukraine's citizens to be able to vote freely. If Russia undermines the elections in Ukraine, we must be determined to apply stronger sanctions on Russia and re-invest even strongly in NATO.'
* Romania can become the key connection point for energy markets from the Black Sea to Central and Eastern Europe, provided that it modernizes its specific infrastructure, US Vice President Joe Biden said at the Victoria Palace of Government. 'National security and energy security are inseparable in this part of the world and the European energy market must be safe, diverse and interconnected,' Biden said in a joint press statement delivered with Prime Minister Victor Ponta. He stressed that the United States are ready to help Romania develop its oil transport pipelines.
* 'We are ready to provide you with the necessary assistance and ensure the oil pipelines in Romania. Romania can ensure the energy solutions for itself. By modernizing its internal infrastructure, Romania can become a key point connecting energy markets from the Black Sea to Central and Eastern Europe. By developing its natural gas production, it can also become a solution for (the Republic) of Moldova, which currently heavily relies on energy from Russia. Romania's sovereignty is based on the country's economic development,' Biden concluded.
* US Vice President Joe Biden congratulated Romania for the fight against corruption and urged that the judicial institutions be free from political influence. Biden held a speech at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in front of approximately 200 people, among whom the main actors on the Romanian political scene and personalities from the justice and economic financial fields and representatives of the civil society. He showed there still were things to be done in regards with corruption, about which he said was a tough and complex problem, but which could be solved. 'I firmly urge you to step forward and resist the instinct of stepping backwards. Keep on asking your judicial institutions to be free from political influence, keep on insisting that no one is above the law.'
* United States of America Vice President Joe Biden said that in the fight against corruption and for the creation of a favourable economic climate there was need for politicians understanding that the Government exists to serve people and not their own interests. 'Investors want to do business where they are treated fairly and where there is transparency. They know to differentiate the true measure from the false one. (...) There is need for leaders in the business community understanding that the fight against corruption is useful for everyone because it improves the business climate and generates economic growth. There is need for politicians understanding the Government exists to serve people, not their own interests, there is need for an independent press, protected from pressures from the outside.'.
* The US Vice President Joe Biden stated that, despite having different political options, all Romanians are in favor of democracy and the rule of law state. 'We realize that Romanians have different political options, but one thing that they all have in common is that they are all in favour of democracy and the rule of law state,' said Biden, in his speech delivered at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. He said that it is very important that the NATO and EU member states share common values.
* The US Vice President Joe Biden stated that he cannot image a completely free and safe Europe, without a strong Romania. 'Your government is making huge progress, the Romanian people is making huge progress. I told both the President and the Prime Minister that I cannot imagine a completely free and safe Europe, without a strong, united and independent Romania, and it is not only to your country's best interest to take care of these problems and to obtain the best results for your nation. As stronger, independent and capable you become, as stronger we all become. It is not only about what America can do for Romania, but about what we can do together, for each other.'.
* Jill Biden, wife of US Vice President Joe Biden, on Wednesday in Bucharest presented Director of the Open Door Foundation Monica Boseff with an award from the US Department of State (DoS) acknowledging Boseff's contribution to the combat against human trafficking, one of its ten such annual rewards. At a meeting with Romanian NGOs operating in the area of the combat against human trafficking, Jill Biden said their efforts do not go unnoticed and the activity of the assistance providers to victims manages to change lives.
She said she is honoured to be with Romanians getting involved in the fight against human trafficking in Romania, adding that she just met a group of human trafficking survivors. Their stories, she said, provide more importance to your activity. 'You offer them assistance, consultations and raise the awareness level of the phenomenon,' said Jill Biden, adding that on behalf of the US she is thanking the Romanian NGOs for their daily work for the survivors. 'Your work is not easy and your efforts do not go unnoticed; your work changes lives,' said Jill Biden.
Jill Biden also visited the 'Dimitrie Gusti' Village Museum in Bucharest, alongside Maria Basescu, wife of Romania's President Traian Basescu. The two ladies were greeted by Village Museum Director Paulina Popoiu. Jill Biden and Maria Basescu were welcomed at the entrance to the museum complex by two persons dressed in Romanian traditional costumes, from Bucovina (north-eastern Romania) and Sibiu (central Romania), offering them bread and salt, according to an old Romanian custom. The official visit includes a short show of folk songs and dances, stopovers at some traditional households and a meeting with the craftsmen of the Village Museum.
* The US Vice President concluded on Wednesday afternoon his visit to Bucharest. The previous visit of the Vice President Joe Biden to Bucharest took place on October 21 and 22, 2009. Biden also paid a visit to Romania in early September 1999; at that time, Biden was a Senator and the Democrat leader within the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.