AMERICAN AND ROMANIAN LEADERS CONVENE IN WASHINGTON, DC TO LAUNCH US-ROMAINIAN PARTNERSHIP

WHAT:

In the aftermath of the Ukraine crisis and in light of America's need for close allies in Eastern Europe, leading Romanian Americans and Americans involved in Romania will gather on October 2 in Washington, DC, together with Romanian-American professionals and former US Ambassadors to launch Alianta, a DC-based organization focused on fortifying close ties between the two countries. Alianta is a network of networks, engaging all interested American individuals and organizations in the mission of keeping the US and Romania close cultural, economic, political, and military allies. Romania has worked closely with the US urging other European nations to stand together to preserve their independence.

"Now more than any time since the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago, America needs to stay close to Eastern European nations such as Romania which share our democratic values," said Mark Gitenstein, President of Alianta, who served as President Obama's ambassador from 2009 to 2012. 

"Many Americans -- Romanian Americans like me as well others -- understand that now is the time to pull together for the values we share," said Dan Dimancescu, Romanian Honorary Consul in Boston. "Alianta is designed to give us a voice and a presence in our nation's capital."

WHO:

·       Iulian Buga, Romanian Ambassador

·       Dan Dimancescu, Romanian Honorary Consul, Boston

·       Mark Gitenstein, former US Ambassador to Romania, founding President, Alianta

·       Jim Rosapepe, former US Ambassador to Romania

·       Sheilah Kast, former ABC News White House Correspondent and Gala MC

Honorees at the October 2 Gala dinner will include leading Romanian Americans and Americans who have made major contributions to the "alianta" between the US and Romania. They are:

·       Mike Carroll, Founder and current President of Romanian Children's Relief and their Romanian partner charity, Fundatia Inocenti, photographer

·       Ileana Orlich, Head of German, Romanian and Slavic Faculty and Director of the Arizona State University Romanian Studies Program

·       Daniela Rus, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT

WHEN:
Thursday, October 2, 2014

Cocktail reception: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. EDT 

Gala event: 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. EDT 

WHERE:

National Museum of Women in the Arts

1250 New York Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20005

ABOUT ALIANTA:

Alianta is a non-partisan alliance of organizations and professionals working to strengthen the cultural and economic ties between Romania and the United States. Its mission is to empower Romanian and American institutions and individuals through education, networking, and facilitating opportunities that benefit the citizens of both nations. In doing so Alianta will heighten and strengthen the image of Romania in the United States, especially amongst key U.S. opinion makers.