Washington, January 22, 2008

New Romanian Ambassador to the United States Adrian Vierita presented his credentials to President George W. Bush during a ceremony that took place at the White House on Tuesday, January 22^nd.

In a letter addressed to President Bush, Ambassador Vierita said: “I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to contribute to the growing friendship between the United States and Romania and to the strengthening of the strategic partnership between our two countries. I will devote all my efforts to promoting stronger political and security relations with the United States, improved bilateral economic exchanges and, not least, to strengthening the ties with the Romanians living in the US.”

He also pointed to Romania’s unwavering support for the vision of President Bush for a Europe whole and free and for expanding the benefits of freedom and democracy from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

Ambassador Vierita emphasized the bilateral cooperation in promoting democratic values, economic development and other global and regional issues, such as energy security, nonproliferation, the fight against terrorism and organized crime. 

As Romania is preparing to host the NATO Summit, in April 2008, Ambassador Vierita underlined: “this is the most important event ever to be organized in Bucharest. We strongly believe this will be an important moment for the future of the Alliance itself.”  He also mentioned the privilege of hosting President Bush and the First Lady in Bucharest, during the Summit.

Prior to his appointment in Washington, Ambassador Vierita served as State Secretary for European Affairs with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since July 2006 and Ambassador of Romania to the Federal Republic of Germany between 2002 - 2006.

Adrian Vierita was appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Romania to the United States by the President of Romania, Mr. Traian Basescu, on December 5.

Biographical notes:

Mr. Vierita is a career member of the Diplomatic Corps of Romania. He joined the Foreign Service on March 1, 1991. He held various executive positions with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Chief of Staff of the State Secretary coordinating relations with Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America, Deputy Director of the United Nations and International Organizations Directorate, Director of the Central and South-East Europe Directorate and General Director for European and Transatlantic Affairs. Other postings abroad include a 4-year tour with the Permanent Mission of Romania to the International Organizations in Vienna, where he covered OSCE negotiations related to CFE Treaty and Black Sea security issues, as well as trafficking in persons and transborder crime; he also served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Romania to IAEA and UNIDO.

In 2002, he was decorated with the Order of Faithful Service of Romania in the Rank of Officer. In 2003, he received the “Ambassador of the Year” Award and in 2005 was acknowledged Diplomat of the Year by “Nine O’Clock” daily in Bucharest. In 2006, Mr.Vierita received the Great Cross of Merit of The Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr. Vierita graduated the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna program of post-academic studies in International Affairs and European Integration, as well as the Romanian Institute of International Studies in Bucharest, specializing in international affairs and world economy, both awarded with Merit Diplomas.  At present, he is a PhD candidate in economic sciences, at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. He has a Master’s Degree from the Faculty of Technology of the Polytechnic University in Bucharest. He was also a Visiting Lecturer to the European College for Liberal Arts in Berlin and co-authored the book “Romania in the United Nations Organization", published by the Encyclopedic Publishing House of Bucharest, in 1995.

Ambassador Vierita is married to Mrs. Codrina Eugenia Vierita and has two children. He was born on July 4, 1962 in Bucharest.