Joint Press Availability With Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi
Press Availability
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTreaty RoomWashington, DCSeptember 13, 2011SECRETARY CLINTON:Good morning, everyone. And I am very pleased to welcome the foreign minister here back to the State Department as we celebrate another important milestone in the long history of cooperation and friendship between our two countries.Thanks to the diligent work of our negotiating teams and the personal commitment of President Basescu and President Obama, the foreign minister and I have just signed the U.S.-Romanian Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement. This represents a critical step in implementing the Phased Adaptive Approach to missile defense in Europe.
The proliferation of ballistic missiles that are more lethal, more accurate, and can cover greater distances poses a growing threat to the people and security of both Europe and the United States. Our governments worked closely together to select Deveselu Air Base in Romania to host a ballistic missile defense system, and the agreement we have just signed will position Romania as a central player in NATO’s evolving missile defense capability.
Once the agreement is ratified, the United States will build, maintain, and operate in Romania the land-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, a system we have assiduously tested and have proven effective over the last decade, and which will help protect the entire continent and augment the security of the United States. With the support of the Romanian parliament and people, we anticipate deploying the completed system as part of the second phase of European missile defense in approximately four years.
This agreement reflects the commitment of the United States to our allies in NATO, and specifically to our Article 5 responsibilities for collective defense. On Sunday, we marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The day after those attacks, for the first time in its history, NATO invoked Article 5 for collective security. Ten years later, we still remember that commitment and solidarity, and how our allies did not hesitate to stand by our side in our time of need. With the agreement the foreign minister and I sign today, we again strengthen our resolve and our promise to protect each other in very concrete ways.
Romania has been a strong partner in NATO’s actions around the globe, from peacekeeping in Kosovo to enforcing the arms embargo of Libya, and we honor the commitment and sacrifice of the Romanian soldiers who served alongside American troops in Afghanistan.
Now there are many areas where Romania and the United States collaborate. Before this ceremony, the foreign minister and I had a wide ranging discussion covering the full depth and scope of our bilateral relationship, from promoting government transparency to creating free market opportunities worldwide, and I want to particularly to thank Romania for its work supporting emerging democracies as well. Drawing on the lessons of its own recent history, Romania has offered valuable guidance and expertise to countries that are working to build sustainable democratic governments and improve the lives of their citizens.
Finally, I congratulate the foreign minister and the president on achieving the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States. This declaration further solidifies our key regional cooperation and marks another milestone in our relationship.
Teodor, I look forward to continuing to build the bonds of friendship with the Romanian people and government, as we have done for more than 130 years. Neither of us were around at the beginning, but I hope we’re around for many years to come – (laughter) – as we see Romania assume even greater responsibilities on the world stage through the European institutions, the United Nations, and forums such as the Community of Democracies. And with this missile agreement, we are jointly building a safer, more secure future for us all.
Thank you very much.
FOREIGN MINISTER BACONSCHI: Thank you. Thank you, Secretary Clinton, dear Hillary, for the warm welcome, visit to the United States, just two days the entire world commemorated in deep sympathy with you American people the horrible terrorists attacks of 9/11. We stand by you, as we have always done.
The wind of change in the Arab world demonstrates that democracy is worth fighting for, and once gained it must be jealously protected. As a member of the free world and as a strategic partner of the United States, Romania is determined to participate in the effort towards global security. President Traian Basescu's visit to Washington confirms this common approach to global security and a signature today of this agreement which is one of the focal points of this visit expresses our commitment most eloquently.
It also sets a new stage in our relation, confirming that our strategic partnership has broadened and deepened. The provisions of the agreement allow for the establishment of the territory – on the territory for Romania of elements of the U.S.-European phased adaptive approach to missile defense. This is an integral part of the effort to implement the decision NATO took last November in Lisbon.
In this context, the Romania air base at Deveselu represents an extremely valuable contribution to that NATO, and for the time being, bilateral program.
I’m also happy to hail the adoption of the Joint Declaration of the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century, which was just issued. This is a concrete outstanding result of the meeting of our two presidents this morning.
It confirms our excellent long term and ever-developing partnership. It also sets the pillars of our relation, political dialogue, which is excellent, security, economy, people-to-people contacts, science and technology research, education, and culture. Indeed, substantive trust in the bilateral relation is an incentive for trade and investment – more American investments in the Romanian market, which is very much investment-oriented. It is so therefore our wish to pursue deeper and broader this kind of cooperation in any bilateral register, and we shouldn’t be afraid when we assist to this turbulent, contemporary world.
We have, due to our strategic partnership, enough opportunities to put more substance in our economic exchanges and cultural mobility. I am confident that endorsement by President Obama of co-sponsored legislation modifying the criteria for the visa waiver program, shall trigger rapid inclusion of strong allies like Romania in this program, which is designed to help to encourage much more people-to-people contact between our nations.
So, dear Hillary, we are modestly making history today. I am very much impressed and honored to be here at the State Department, and I congratulate all those who have hard worked for this successful agreement between our two nations. Thank you so much. (Applause.)
MS. NULAND: We have time for two questions. The first goes to BBC, Kim Ghattas.
QUESTION: Good morning. Madam Secretary, I want to turn your attention to the Middle East, if possible. Beyond pleading with the Palestinians not to go to the UN with a bid for statehood, what are your envoys, Dennis Ross and David Hale, able to offer the Palestinians at this stage, either on behalf of the United States or on behalf of the Israelis, if they’ve had any interesting discussions with the Israelis, to try to convince the Palestinians not to go forward with their plans to go to the UN? And following up on that, has the United States considered that a veto at the UN Security Council or a no-vote at the General Assembly, under these circumstances, would be more damaging than an abstention?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Kim, let’s look first at the big picture, because clearly you raise a number of important issues, all of which we are focused on intently. But we need an environment that is conducive to direct negotiations. We all know that no matter what happens or doesn’t happen at the UN, the next day is not going to result in the kind of changes that the United States wishes to see that will move us toward the two-state solution that we strongly support. The only way of getting a lasting solution is through direct negotiations between the parties, and the route to that lies in Jerusalem and Ramallah, not in New York.
So instead we are redoubling our efforts with not only both sides, but with a broad cross-section of the international community, to create a sustainable platform for negotiations that can produce the two-state outcome that we seek within the framework that President Obama laid out in his speech last May.
So we are working very hard at all levels on this. I recently have spoken with President Abbas, with High Representative Cathy Ashton, with Quartet Representative Tony Blair. I’m sending David Hale and Dennis Ross back to the region in the next days to meet with both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas.
And I think the issue is not simply that action in New York will not bring peace and stability, but it will create more distractions toward achieving that goal, which is certainly the commitment of the Obama Administration. And so we have to keep our eye on what the objective truly is. That’s the point we’re making to everyone. I’m not going to comment on what we see developing, because I think that is going to require even more diplomacy over the next week. But our hope is that we get the parties back into a frame of mind and a process where they will actually begin negotiating again.
QUESTION: But may I follow up on a veto versus an abstention?
SECRETARY CLINTON: You know, Kim, we’ve made our views known on that.
MS. NULAND: And last question, from (inaudible).
QUESTION: Good morning. I have a question for both of you, first is for the Secretary of State. The security cooperation between our countries – it’s at a high level right now, but many citizens are unhappy with the way in which visas are granted. You believe that there will be a solution to this problem in the near future?
SECRETARY CLINTON: I want to tell the people of Romania, I’m unhappy – (laughter) – about the way the visas – the visa system operates. And the foreign minister and I discussed at length our hope in the Obama Administration to bring about changes in the congressional laws which determine how the visa system is run and who qualifies for visa waiver. You are not the only country that I feel very strongly about trying to change the criteria. Our Polish friends feel exactly the same way.
So as the minister said, we are working in our Administration to present legislation that would create a change in criteria that would enable us to have greater interactions between Americans and Romanians. Until we get that change, because if I could sign a document I would but I have to go through the Congress, we’re going to be working closely with Romania to make sure that we provide whatever technical assistance is needed to try to improve the process in Romania, so we at least get as many people visas and we move closer toward the existing targets on visa waiver.
QUESTION: Thank you. Second is --
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes. She has a question for the minister.
QUESTION: -- for Mr. Baconschi. We speak today about a new stage in the relationship between Romania and the United States. But how these things can be reflected in our economy cooperation?
FOREIGN MINISTER BACONSCHI: Well, as you might know, the United States is already one of the most important foreign investors in our economy, and we are looking forward to increase the volume of these, including already decided new idea and plans to be created in Romania, which is supposed to generate something like 3,000 – well, jobs, new jobs. So we are very – because we have this very coherent political dialogue in energy security, in strategic affairs, in transatlantic files, and in the NATO framework, et cetera, we are supposed to send the right message to the business media here in the United States. We have enough political trust. We know each other very well, and we would like to see much more American enterprises invest in Romania. Yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: We would, too. (Laughter.)
Thank you.
MS. NULAND: Thank you very much.
RESIST, INSIST, PERSIST, ENLIST.” - HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Video: Secretary Clinton's Remarks with Romanian FM Baconschi
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Secretary Clinton: Photos of the Day
She also me with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, but there was no press availability. There are issues. The Turkey-Brazil-Iran nuclear deal preceding that attack by the Israeli Navy on a ship flying the Turkish flag. Months ago I said I was keeping my eye on Davutoglu. He seems to be something of a male version of Hillary and has gravitas, especially in Europe, I think. I would like to be a fly on the wall when these two get together, because I also think he is somewhat impervious to her personal charms that work so well on the men (as discussed here at length yesterday).
Secretary Clinton's Press Availability with Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi **UPDATED WITH VIDEO**
Press Availability with Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi After Their Meeting
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTreaty RoomWashington, DCJune 1, 2010
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon. It is a pleasure to welcome the foreign minister here today. This year, Romania and the United States mark the 130th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship, and it is a friendship and partnership that grows stronger every year.
Our nations and people share a deep commitment to freedom and democracy, and a profound respect for human dignity and the rule of law. Romania and the United States are working together bilaterally as well as through international organizations to foster greater transatlantic cooperation on a range of difficult issues, from nuclear nonproliferation to energy security to climate change.
The United States and Romania are also allies through NATO, and our shared commitment to the mutual defense of the alliance is unwavering. We are very pleased Romania has agreed to host elements of the phased adaptive approach to missile defense in Europe as we pursue this shared goal. This decision highlights the seriousness with which Romania approaches its role in NATO and its commitment to enhancing global security. Romanian troops have served their country with honor and distinction around the world, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they are helping to move those countries toward a future of peace and stability. We mourn and grieve with the people of Romania over the losses that your nation has sustained, Mr. Minister, in this cause, but we thank you for your ongoing, stalwart commitment.
And it is also true that we have so many shared values and deep ties. Many distinguished Americans come of Romanian heritage, including the late Professor Liviu Librescu, who sacrificed his own life to save his students during the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007. We are pleased that the street in front of the new United States Embassy compound in Bucharest has been named in honor of this wonderful Romanian-American teacher and scholar.
The growing partnership between our nations has been nurtured and cultivated for a long time. I vividly remember my trip to Bucharest 14 years ago – not only the hospitality I received, but the energy and optimism of the Romanian people, who had traveled so far in such a short space of time. I told the foreign minister that I hoped to return to see for myself all of the progress that has been made and to work with him and with his government to build on the friendship and partnership between our two nations.
Thank you again for being here.
FOREIGN MINISTER BACONSCHI: Thank you very much, Madam Secretary. I truly appreciate your remarks. We had an excellent discussion today on the main bilateral topics on our agenda. And we tackled the enhancement that we have contemplated for the time being, the common wish to add substance to our strategic partnership and our cooperation within NATO and common expectations which we have in the perspective of the NATO Lisbon summit at the end of this year, about our – the increasing of our troops on the ground in Afghanistan and the bilateral cooperation to better protect them, and about Romania’s inclusion in the MD missile defense program.
We would like to also explore together all the possibilities to raise more interest among the business community in the U.S. towards the opportunities offered by the Romanian economy. And I also raised with the Secretary of State our wish to work together for finding new solutions for the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waiver Program. As we are a full membership – a full member of the EU and NATO, we think that our fellow citizens deserve to travel without visa to the U.S.
We have also addressed some later – latest evolutions in our own region, in the Black Sea region, and in the immediate vicinity of the European Union. And we also took the opportunity to speak about the energy security issues. I have explained to the Madam Secretary of State our main projects in this field.
So I thank you very much for the hospitality during this, my first official trip to Washington. And I’m looking forward to work together with you and to further increase the quality of our partnership.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you so much.
MR. CROWLEY: On his last day of covering the State Department, Nick Kralev of The Washington Times.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, Nick.
QUESTION: Hello.
SECRETARY CLINTON: We should sing Auld Lang Syne or something. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: Well, thank you very much even without doing it.
Madam Secretary, I’d like to ask you a couple things about the Israeli situation which, as you know, is getting more and more serious by the day. I know there are many unknowns at this point, but do you accept Israel’s argument of self-defense? And do you think that the investigation should be done by Israel or by a third independent party, as other Security Council members have said?
And more broadly, we all know there are so many moving pieces to this. There’s Turkey, there’s Israel and in the Palestinians, there’s Iran, there’s Syria. What are the implications in your mind of this situation to the peace process and in the larger issues in the Middle East? Thanks.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Nick, on your last day, you’ve asked a very complicated set of interrelated questions. And let me put it into context as I respond. First, let me say how deeply we regret the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered among those involved in the incident aboard the Gaza-bound ships, and we offer our condolences to the families of the deceased and the wounded.
Turkey and Israel are both good friends of the United States, and we are working with both to deal with the aftermath of this tragic incident.
The United States supports the Security Council’s condemnation of the acts leading to this tragedy. And we urge Israel to permit full consular access to the individuals involved and to allow the countries concerned to retrieve their deceased and wounded immediately. We urge all concerned countries to work together to resolve the status of those who were part of this incident as soon as possible.
We support in the strongest terms the Security Council’s call for a prompt, impartial, credible, and transparent investigation. We support an Israeli investigation that meets those criteria. We are open to different ways of assuring a credible investigation, including international participation, and we will continue to discuss these ideas with the Israelis and our international partners in the days ahead.
The situation in Gaza is unsustainable and unacceptable. Israel’s legitimate security needs must be met, just as the Palestinians’ legitimate needs for sustained humanitarian assistance and regular access for reconstruction materials must also be assured.
We will continue to work closely with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority along with international NGOs and the United Nations to ensure adequate access for humanitarian goods, including reconstruction and building supplies. And we welcome efforts to promote the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under the legitimate and internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.
Ultimately, the solution to this conflict must be found through an agreement based on a two-state solution negotiated between the parties. This incident underscores the urgency of reaching this goal and we remain committed to working with both sides to move forward these negotiations.
I think the situation from our perspective is very difficult and requires careful, thoughtful responses from all concerned. But we fully support the Security Council’s action last night in issuing a presidential statement and we will work to implement the intention that this presidential statement represents.
QUESTION: Madam Secretary, thank you very much for taking this question.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes, sir.
QUESTION: So how far or hopefully how close is Romania to (inaudible) visa waiver and what are the steps to be taken on both sides to speed up this process and grant Romanian citizens the right to travel to U.S. for education, business, or as tourists? Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, the minister and I discussed this at some length because we very much support more travel by Romanians to the United States and by Americans to Romania. And you mentioned some of the main reasons – for education, for business, for recreation, and just enjoying the beauty of each other’s country and the hospitality of our respective peoples.
The rules on visa waiver are enshrined in legislation. The Congress has set the standards that must be met, and we are working closely with the Romanian Government to assist Romanian citizens in meeting those standards. We want Romanians to know what the rules are so that they are able to follow them and we can accelerate and increase the high percentage of accepted visas in order to meet the requirements that Congress has determined.
So we are very committed to working, but we have to meet the congressional requirements. And that’s why we want to work on a public education and outreach campaign between our governments to try to help more citizens know those rules and be able to meet them.
MR. CROWLEY: Thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much.
