January 6, 2005

U.S. Looks Forward to Continued Cooperation with Romania

Secretary Powell telephones new Romanian foreign minister

By Louise Fenner
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said January 4 that the United States looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with Romania on a wide range of issues as the new Romanian government takes charge.

He congratulated Romanian President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu on the formation of a new government and said Secretary of State Colin Powell had called Foreign Minister Mihai- Razvan Ungureanu to offer his congratulations and to discuss relations between the United States and Romania.

In December, President Bush telephoned President-elect Basescu to congratulate him on his election.  Bush told the new Romanian leader that he hopes to continue close bilateral cooperation and "expressed appreciation for Romania 's contribution to security in Europe and the world," according to White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

During the January 4 State Department noon briefing, Ereli said the United States has “a close and valuable partnership with Romania .  We look forward to continuing the kind of cooperation we've had with our Romanian allies on a wide range of issues.  Those include the global war on terror, Iraq , Afghanistan , and regional and NATO issues.”