Bucharest , January 18, 2005

President Traian Basescu presented to the Diplomatic Corp accredited to Bucharest the priorities of the Romanian foreign policy

President Traian Basescu presented on Tuesday, January 18th, to the Diplomatic Corp accredited to Bucharest, the priorities of the Romanian foreign policy: the European integration and relations with its members, the strategic dialogue with the United States, the relation with the Great Britain, the relation with neighboring countries, the importance of the Black Sea region.
President Basescu mentioned that 2005 is a decisive year for the success of the project of a modern Romania. He underlined that the European Union will continue to have a crucial contribution to Romania’s development, the prosperity and welfare of its citizens.
Romania’s top priority for 2005-2006 is fulfilling all commitments assumed during the negotiation process and implementing the reforms, stated the Romanian President.
In this context, President Basescu underlined that major issues such as corruption and poverty have to be dealt with before the EU integration and he mentioned that he decided that the first meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defence will declare corruption as a national security risk. "I want to be a President that translates words into facts. I am decided to request from the state institutions action and efficiency in fighting corruption, insuring the freedom of the press, continuing justice reforms”, stated Traian Basescu.
The Romanian President stressed that nobody has anything to gain from the integration of an unprepared Romania in the EU and that the target of the authorities in Bucharest is to transform the efforts of the European integration in visible effects in the everyday life of Romanians.
The Romanian President expressed his belief that Romania can be a factor of stability and equilibrium within the Black Sea and West Balkans, a region of great strategic importance. President Basescu mentioned that it is time for the issue of the wider Black Sea area to be included on the Euro-Atlantic agenda and also said that Romania will pragmatically cooperate with the partners in the region: Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, countries in the eastern Slavic neighborhood and Caucasus.
Traian Basescu stated that “Romania’s evolution, in full accordance with the EU, needs all the great references of the European project. This is how we understand to include the honest strategic dialogue with the US and the special relationship with Great Britain.” He further added that a strong transatlantic relationship is the hallmark of Romania’s contribution, as a NATO member, to promoting democracy, stability and security in the neighboring regions.
President Basescu said that the strategic partnership with the US is a priority of Romania’s foreign policy. He also stressed that he anticipates an intense dialogue with President Bush, bearing in mind that US-Romanian partnership is an effective tool for supporting the Romanian domestic reforms in politics, economy, military and administration.
“The US knows that they can count on the Romanian contribution in the global war on terror,” President Basescu said. He also mentioned that Romania is going to follow with renewed interest the strengthening of the US-Romanian economic relationship as a privileged partnership. This economic partnership will translate into practice by a consistent and balanced trade relationship, solid US investments in Romania, including investments in high-tech industries.
Traian Basescu further mentioned that in the same time, partnership relations with the European countries represent the foundation for the success of Romania’s integration into the EU. He noted the special relationship with Great Britain, the traditional relationship with France, which together with Germany were the “engine” driving Romania on its EU integration process, the support of Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium and Poland.
President Basescu stated that Romanian authorities want to attract a stronger European support for infrastructure projects on Pan-European transport corridors that cross Romania: IV, VII and IX.
He also talked about the importance of the West Balkans region that could become the vector of a historic destiny change.
The Romanian President mentioned that the perspective of the European integration of Turkey proves that Europe also is ready to accept diversity as a normal state of every community.
President Basescu said that Romania wants to bring a decisive contribution to the success of the neighborhood policies and the European path of the Republic of Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro, Ukraine and Georgia will contribute to regional stability.
Traian Basescu stated that the relation with the Republic of Moldova will be a priority of his term. He mentioned that the European future of this country should be considered as a moral obligation of the entire Romanian society.
President Basescu said that authorities in Bucharest will consistently promote the accomplishment of OSCE commitments assumed in Istanbul regarding Trans – Dniester and will support the implication of the EU and US in solving this issue, a source of instability at the eastern border of Romania and the institutional Europe.
The Romanian President also said that the relation with Hungary is an example of cooperation with neighboring countries. He expressed his expectations that authorities in Kiev will show openness to a closer relation with Romania.
Regarding the Russian Federation, Romania targets a useful, pragmatic and efficient political dialogue, President Basescu said.
He also stated that Romanian authorities are determined to respect the identity of all national minorities but “the establishment of “enclaves” based on ethnical criteria is unconceivable”. He said that he will be intransigent with any kind kind of extremist, xenophobic or anti-Semitic manifestation, and he will not tolerate Romania’s being associated with moves of this kind.
President Basescu also talked about the interest in developing relations with China, Japan, India, Korea, the states in the Near East and Africa, Israel, Latin America.
He requested Romanian diplomats to respect as a first priority of the foreign policy the interests of the Romanian citizens.
The president also stated that signing agreements on the migration of the labour force and on social security is necessary. He also mentioned that Romanian authorities will discourage illegal migration, secure the borders and educate the Romanian citizens on the consequences entailed by their decision to emigrate.
Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania and the presidential counselors took part at the meeting.