Embassy of Romania – Washington DC

INVITATION

In the context of Romania's hosting

the Summit of the Black Sea Forum for Dialogue and Partnership in Bucharest , on June 5th 2006 ,

the Ambassador of Romania to Washington DC has the pleasure to invite you to a press-breakfast and briefing on the objectives and preparations of the Summit

Phillip Henderson, Vice President of German Marshall Fund of the United States ,

will join Ambassador Sorin Ducaru in the presentation.

German Marshall Fund of the United States has over the years promoted important projects on democracy and regional cooperation and has provided advice and support for the preparation of the Black Sea Forum

The breakfast will take place on Wednesday, May 24 th , 2006 ,

from 8:30 to 9:30 am

at the Residence of the Ambassador

( 2500 30 th Street NW , Washington D.C. , 20008 )

In December 2005, Romania launched the initiative of a Black Sea Forum for Dialogue and Partnership with the main objective to initiate an inclusive process of reflection about the region, its identity and future and to generate a strategy for the Black Sea region.

Most relevant characteristics of the Black Sea region:

- It is the place that generates the linkage between the geo-strategic “tectonic” plates of the trans-Atlantic community, the former soviet space and the Broader Middle East;

- It is also an area with important potential in terms of energy security , connecting the Western world to the Caspian Sea energy basin;

- The Black Sea area witnessed important democratic transformations through the Rose Revolution in Georgia and the Orange Revolution in Ukraine , while still coping with the challenges of frozen conflicts and fighting trans-border crime in view of insuring security and stability.

The event in Bucharest will be a good opportunity for the Heads of States and Governments of the countries in the Black Sea region to assess the genuine needs of the region and foster a common vision on the future. High level representatives of BSEC, CoE, EU, NATO, OSCE, UN and other international organizations, Ministers of Foreign Affairs of EU member states, representatives of the non-governmental and business community are also expected to attend the Forum.