ROMANIA AND THE UNITED STATES CELEBRATE 125 YEARS
OF DIPLOMATIC BILATERAL RELATIONS

Romania and the United States celebrate on June 14 th , 2005 , 125 years of diplomatic bilateral relations.

In June 1880, following the intensification of official contacts between the two countries, diplomatic bilateral relations were established for the first time, at level of diplomatic agency, thanks to the efforts on both sides and to the openness of US President at that time, Rutherford B. Hayes and Secretary of State William M. Evarts.

In November 1880, Colonel Sergiu Voinescu was appointed to represent the first Romanian diplomatic mission in the United States .

In 1891 the US diplomatic representation in Romania was up graded to extraordinary envoy and plenipotentiary minister level.

At the end of the 19 th century and beginning of 20 th century, economic bilateral relations intensified, as the volume of American exports to Romania increased and the first American investments in Romanian industry took place, while Consular and Extradition Conventions have been signed. A positive development was registered in the Romanian – US bilateral relations before and during the First World War, when the American support to Romania during the war was highly appreciated.

Diplomatic bilateral relations between Romania and the US were suspended in December 1941, following Romania 's War Declaration. This situation extended to 1947, when diplomatic relations were reestablished.

After the fall of Communism in Romania in 1989, the bilateral relations between the two countries were rearranged on new basis and new dimensions.

In July 1997 the Strategic Partnership Romania – US was launched on the occasion of President Bill Clinton's official visit to Bucharest . The Partnership aimed the consolidation of bilateral relations, supporting the reforms process in Romania , as well as Romania 's Euro Atlantic integration process, promoting Romania 's role of security and stability factor in South – East Europe .

In 2002, on the occasion of the Prague NATO Summit , Romania was invited to join NATO and in May 2003 the US Congress unanimously ratified the protocols for NATO integration of Romania . In 2004 Romania became a full member of the Alliance .

Romanian President Traian Basescu's visit to Washington DC , in March 2005 and his meeting with American President George W. Bush underlined the quality of the strategic bilateral relation between Romania and the United State and the role of Romania as “special ally “ of the United States .