Bucharest, Jan 1 /Rompres/ - 'Happy New Year Romanians. We came to Europe. Glad to see you Europe,' said Traian Basescu on the New Year's Eve. The head of state, celebrating the New Year's Eve for the seventh time in University Square with the Bucharest locals, advised Romanians to be strong, to have the courage to decide for them.

Romania's EU accession guarantees the freedom to decide what is best for you. We are close to the extraordinary moment of our full freedom, of our solidarity with 480 million citizens. We are here because you wanted and the EU citizens helped us. Happy New Year Romanians,' said the President.

Basescu said that Romanians start on a new path today, the path of the victory and joy, after enduring hardships over the past years.

He said that Romanians contributed the most to the EU accession.

Today we are ready to be EU members because you wanted, but also the Romanians from Moldova, Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria or Hungary. You gave me the chance to be President of Romania when we join the Union and I thank you for that,' said the chief of state.

Traian Basescu believes that 2007 is the year of Romania's dignity. 'After we joined NATO in 2004 and ensured security, now we ensure peace and prosperity by joining the European Union. He added that this is the chance of the new generation and depends only on it.

[Source: Romanian National News Agency ROMPRES ]