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US Ambassador's priorities: cooperation with Afghanistan, economic relations and energy security

The Romanian-American cooperation in Afghanistan, the consolidation of the economic relations between the two countries and the energy security are the first three priorities of the new US Ambassador in Bucharest, Mark Gitenstein, announced on Thursday in his first news conference since taking over his new position.

My first priority is to improve the strengthen the security relation between the two countries, which is mainly based on Afghanistan, to make sure that the Romanian Government is equally committed as it was previously to making this country secure, said Mark Gitenstein, who voiced hope it would be like that in the future too. Gitenstein, who gave a first news conference on Thursday after his coming to Bucharest, remarked the good Romanian-American cooperation in the operations theatres.

We are NATO dedicated members, we work shoulder to shoulder with Afghanistan. Romania is a NATO ally the US trusts so much that it did something it does very seldom, namely it entrusted the command of the American troops to a foreign nation. In Zabul, Afghanistan, the American troops are under the command of a Romanian battalion commander. There we plan and carry out together successful missions, said Gitenstein.

The second priority of the American diplomat is the cooperation with Romania's Government for the improvement of the economic and financial relation with the two countries and between the private sectors in Romania and the US.

In his opinion the opening of the Ford car plant in Craiova (southern Romania) is a positive sign in this respect and the Ambassador pledged to cooperate with the Romanian Government in order to facilitate other American investments in Romania.

As a matter of fact Gitenstein informed that he would give a reception attended by the members of the American Chamber of Commerce as he wanted to hear the problems and priorities US businessmen face.

The third priority will be the energy security. He informed that they would organize a number of events and projects in this respect such as the liquefied natural gas terminal in Constanta (south-eastern Romania), the increase in the energy security and a conference on the energy security in the Black Sea region. Richard Morningstar, the US Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy, is also expected to attend this conference.

We cooperate in order to improve Romania's and Europe's energy security by promoting projects that ensure a diversification of the energy sources and of the transit routes. We also try to promote a better energy efficiency in our economic systems and the growing use of alternative energy sources,' also said Gitenstein.

Gitenstein: Romania and US disagree on Kosovo

Kosovo is one of the subjects on which Romania and the US have diverging positions, but it is not apt to influence Romania's position in NATO, the Ambassador Mark Gitenstein, told the first news conference he gave after coming to Bucharest.

This is one of the points on which the US and Romania's Government disagree. The American Government's position is obviously the one to be found in the UN Resolution. I am not sure that it will influence Romania's position in NATO as the countries can take distinct positions on foreign policy or the public policies, said Mark Gitenstein.

Kosovo proclaimed its independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008 and was recognized by 54 countries, among which there were the US and most EU member states.In an amendment adopted in early February by a vote of 281 to 229, euro-deputies encourage the EU member states that did not do it to recognize Kosovo's independence.

Of the 27 EU member states 22 recognized Kosovo's independence, but Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Slovakia and Romania refuse to do it for solidarity with Serbia or in order not to create a precedent.Serbia requested and got the assent of the UN General Assembly for the International Court of Justice in The Hague to have its say on the lawfulness of Kosovo's independence, Agerpres informs.

Gitenstein: Romania has to ensure stabile and predictible business environment

Romania earned a lot, over the past years, thanks to the trade with the US and to those over 10 billion dollars invested by the American companies, but to attract American investors it needs a stabile and predictable environment, the new American Ambassador to Romania, Mark Gitenstein said in his first press conference since taking over his new position.

The American diplomat said that transparency, reforming regulations, strengthening and implementing the state of law and increasing consultation and partnership efforts with the international business community are needed.

I step in only when the American citizens and companies signal me that they are facing problems in Romania as regards the rule of law. He gave assurances he would be honest with the Romanian authorities when they signal problems he can help with, such as the justice reform the regulation and implementation of laws.

On the other hand, Mark Gitenstein pointed out that the US had no reason to display a superior attitude, because it had taken it 100 years to enforce the state of law while Romania is expected to do that in only 20 years.

Asked to explain what exactly he meant by a stronger state of law and the law implementation, Gitenstein insisted on the fact that the American companies needed a stabile and predictable environment. Against this background, the Ambassador, who attended on Tuesday the opening of the Ford Factory in Craiova (south west of Bucharest) highlighted the importance of developing infrastructure in the area.

Another example, in terms of planning, is developing infrastructure, Gitenstein said. 300,000 cars will be produced by the Ford Factory in Craiova every year. There should be a plan for a train connection or a motorway system for those cars to reach Constanta (south east of Bucharest, at the Black Sea). That requires a real project, a real and predictable budget, the American diplomat said.

Mark Gitenstein added that, in case of illegal activities related to these projects, the American Govt and companies want to make sure that people who break the law will be sent to Court.

Sursa: http://www.actmedia.eu

Tags: gitenstein bucharest ambassador conference position romanias romania priorities first economic afghanistan cooperation countries energy security american romanian euro car

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