The United States of America (the United
States) and Romania share a history of close ties between our people, a
commitment to democracy, an enduring strategic relationship, and a
willingness to confront common challenges and threats. Strong, deep ties
connect the people of the United States and Romania through cultural,
economic, and scientific relations. This Strategic Partnership reflects
the excellent and broadening cooperation between our countries to
promote security, democracy, free market opportunities, and cultural
exchange.
We believe that the continued development of a durable and long-term
Strategic Partnership increases the security of the United States and
Romania, as well as the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. The
cornerstone of our cooperation is the solidarity embodied in Article 5
of the North Atlantic Treaty, which provides that an armed attack
against one or more North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries
shall be considered an armed attack against them all. The United States
and Romania acknowledge the importance of enhancing their individual and
collective security by working within NATO, the United Nations, and
other international organizations, consistent with United Nations
Charter and international law.
Today, security cooperation between Romania and the United States is
robust. We welcome the fact that the United States and Romania have
reached agreement on stationing in Romania elements of the U.S. European
Phased Adaptive Approach to missile defense, which is an extremely
valuable contribution to the development of a NATO missile defense
capability. In this context, on May 3, 2011, the United States and
Romania announced the selection of Deveselu Airbase as the site of the
facility, thus reaffirming the commitment of both our countries to
missile defense. The deployment is anticipated to occur in the 2015
timeframe. The United States and Romania welcome the November 2010
decision by NATO to develop a missile defense capability to provide full
coverage and protection for all NATO European populations, territory,
and forces. The Deveselu facility is an important component of that
capability.
Romania and the United States also cooperate broadly and successfully
on security, including through Task Force East, enabling U.S. European
Command and its service components periodically to deploy to Romania to
work with Romanian partners and effectively conduct training exercises
with military forces from the Central European and Black Sea regions.
Such cooperation has proceeded on the basis of the Agreement between the
United States of America and Romania regarding the Activities of United
States Forces located on the Territory of Romania, done in Bucharest on
December 6, 2005. We are seeking to work together on a regional
approach that can help interested European countries modernize their air
forces.
Romania and the United States also have partnered effectively, both
bilaterally and in the context of NATO operations, such as the NATO
Training Mission in Iraq, the International Security Assistance Force in
Afghanistan, the Kosovo Force (KFOR), and Operation Unified Protector
in Libya and other operations, such as Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom. The United States welcomes Romanian approval
for a U.S. request to use Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase and the nearby
port of Constanta as a logistical hub for U.S. materiel in transit to
and from Afghanistan and other areas of operation. Both nations believe
that such cooperation brings long-term mutual benefits for our security
relationship and strengthens the NATO Alliance.
We continue to support opportunities for increased trade and
investment, cooperation between our business communities, and the
development of deeper industrial and technological cooperation.
President Obama has endorsed legislation co-sponsored by several
members of Congress that would reform how countries qualify for the Visa
Waiver Program to ensure that strong Allies get proper consideration.
This legislation requires that aspirants to the Visa Waiver Program
commit to enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States.
We look forward to Romania meeting this objective.
In pursuit of a common vision of broader and deeper United States –
Romania Strategic Partnership, the United States and Romania have
identified the following areas for strengthened cooperation:
-
The U.S. missile defense system and NATO missile defense capability,
recognizing that this system contributes to the defense of the United
States and Romania and NATO European Allies and enhances regional
stability;
-
Disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control;
-
Combating terrorism, and addressing other emerging risks and threats including by enhancing information sharing;
-
Cooperation within NATO, including improved interoperability and
cooperation in the field of defense equipment and related materiel;
-
Regional cooperation and stability, including in Eastern Europe and
the Western Balkans, including by improving NATO-EU cooperation,
enhancing Euro-Atlantic institutions, and seeking solutions to
protracted conflicts;
-
Trade and investment, including facilitating contacts between business
communities, while reaffirming our commitment to market principles,
rule of law, a sound business environment, transparency, and public
integrity;
-
Energy security, including ensuring diversified sources and transport
routes such as the Southern Corridor, developing smart grids,
researching unconventional sources of energy, including shale gas, and
pursuing alternative sources of clean energy and liberalizing of markets
to attract new investment to the energy sector;
-
Democracy and rule of law, human rights, and good governance,
including by firmly supporting these values in the region, in the
countries of the Eastern Partnership: Republic of Armenia, Republic of
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, and to
spur reform and strengthen democracy in those countries. In addition,
our joint work in support of the Community of Democracies and our
membership on the UN Human Rights Council are valuable initiatives;
-
Education, research and people-to-people contacts, facilitated by
exchanges of professionals, investors, business travelers, academics,
and scientific researchers;
-
Science and technology, including continued support for diversifying contacts among their academic and research communities;
Our resilient and dynamic Strategic Partnership can enhance the
security and prosperity of both Romania and the United States, and we
look forward to our future cooperation.
Washington, D.C., September 13, 2011
source:US State Department
Comentarii