The Senate and Chamber of Deputies hold joint solemn session to celebrate Romania's National Day

Calin Popescu – Tariceanu : “For each of us, the Great Union will acquire a new significance this year, in the history of our nation, through the forthcoming EU Accession on January 1st 2007 ”

Address by Prime Minister Calin Popescu – Tariceanu at the solemn joint session of the two Chambers of Parliament dedicated to Romania's National Day

President,
Senators and Deputies,
Distinguished guests,
Dear Romanians,

Today, we celebrate the National Day, the Day of the Great Union of 1918, with confidence and the joy to mark a new page of history soon.

For each of us, the Great Union will acquire a new significance this year in the history of our nation, through the forthcoming EU Accession on January 1st 2007 .

Even if we do not compare the two moments with the rigor of the historians, at least we should better understand the greatness of these achievements for our national destiny and the value of the Romanians' efforts when they are jointly made.

This month, we celebrate the fulfillment of two national projects for which the Romanians have fought with dedication and commitment.

They are great because neither of them is the monopoly of somebody but each of them represents a success of the entire society.

The Day of December 1st 1918 made Romania stronger, and more respected, while 1st of January 2007 will make Romania more prosperous, with people enjoying freedom and the new opportunities to progress through openness, merits of democratic system.

December 1st 1918 brought to Romanians dignity and the fulfillment of their national ideal. We want January 1 2007 to restore to Romania its dignity prejudiced in the Communist period, the prosperity we all want along all Europeans and Romania 's final settlement on the democratic Europe map.

History showed that December 1 st 1918 opened the path towards accelerated and harmonious modernization. January 1 2007 will represent a second modernization of Romania , as a state based on liberal democracy, market economy and system coupled to Europe 's pace, capable to bring prosperity to our citizens, once with drawing near to European standards.

For all these reasons, I want us to live this day with joy, hope and in unity.

I want us to be free of complexes, the past's shadows and the regrets which sometimes originate in our tumultuous history.

As Prime Minister, I want us to bridge as soon as possible the gaps which still separate us from the living standards of the Western Europe , to win the fight with poverty and lacks.

I want us to defeat the signs of distrust or hesitation as regards the infinite merits of democratic freedom and action.

The fulfillment of the Great Union's ideal was possible through the joint vow of all Romanians, and also through the vision and greatness of people who led in that period the national energies, confident in the democratic modernity of a united country.

Now, at its European beginning, Romania must preserve with firmness and the same unshaken confidence the democratic, unitary and European destiny of our national construction.

It is said that great people have to solve difficult issues. We say alike: a great nation fulfills the national projects by overcoming the history's vicissitudes. Romanians have proved on December 1 st 1918 that they can be envied for the strength, courage and energy to fulfill their ideals. I am convinced we can bring a new proof of that on January 1 2007 !

We are together today – due to solidarity and we want to fulfill through work and firmness, creativity and inspiration our national project, the European and prosperous modernity of Romania .

This is the message of trust the Government sends to Romanians in this anniversary moment.

Above all, we have a huge trust in our Romanian potential!

As Prime Minister I trust the immense intellectual richness and ambitions of Romanians to do the right thing.

We are together today – through our good thoughts – with the brothers and sisters beyond the borders too, with those who preserve the Romanian spirit in their families, in the communities they are living in, everywhere they are working or studying.



Ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished colleagues,

Beyond all the speeches we are today delivering is the greatness of an entire history that was written or is due to be written and all its lessons which we should be aware of.

This is why, perhaps, today more than on other national holidays, we have the enthusiasm to include – in every gesture and hope – the unshaken idea of the European modernity of Romania .

In the end, I want to convey the best wishes to all our citizens and to the Romanians of everywhere.

Government of Romania - Press office - 30.11.2006