July 4, 2006

Mr. President,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Esteemed Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

July 4th, the day we declared our independence, is a very special day for Americans. First, it is a day we do not go to work, and that is a good way to start the summer.

It gives us free time to think about our democracy. It gives us time to contemplate the blessings of freedom and it makes us think about what we all need to do, as individuals, to nurture, sustain and perpetuate our blessings.

Our democracy is a living, breathing entity, more than just documents of declaration of purpose. It is a constant state of change we encourage to always re-examine the purpose of our country and the relationship between Americans and a government of the people. A government of the people is one in which there are no spectators, only participants. It is a people who are constantly vigilant through both individuality and institutions to be certain none of our hard-gained and sacred gains are abridged.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. It demands participation from us all: school children, immigrants, non-governmental organizations, bureaucracy, higher institutions of learning and indeed, every other aspect of our lives. We work hard to preserve the rights of those who are defenseless: the elderly, orphans, disabled, the poor, plus uncounted others. And while we are in this process of creating important values through democracy, we are perpetuating our own future in our now 230 year old experiment.

And that is what it is. An experiment. Americans continually change the recipe, trying to improve it and make it more democratic.

By participation we all create our own personal stake in this democracy. It belongs to the people and it belongs to the individual.

This is why we celebrate our freedom and our democracy today.

This is why we celebrate, in many small ways, our principles every single day.

This is why we celebrate July 4th.

Before I introduce our special guest today, I would like to add a few words about the U.S.-Romanian relationship.

In recent days, I’ve been asked a lot about our relations. Let me just say, Romania is one of America’s best friends. Romania is a reliable partner, not just in Afghanistan and in Iraq, but across the board. For instance, last summer, Romania opened its doors to provide temporary refuge to hundreds of Uzbek men, women and children, fleeing political persecution in their home country. Today, they have nearly all left for permanent resettlement in the United States, in Canada, in Australia and in various European countries. They will remember Romania’s generosity and hospitality for the rest of their lives. I know I will too.

Romania knows how to step up to our common responsibilities and to follow through on its international commitments. It’s a “go-to” country, as we like to say back home. There is nothing that has happened during the past week that has changed my mind about Romania’s reliability as a friend, as a partner and as a firm ally.”

Thank you for your attention. And now, I have the honor to introduce the President of Romania, Mr. Traian Basescu.

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4 Iulie 2006

Discursul Ambasadorului Statelor Unite ale Americii Nicholas F. Taubman
cu ocazia Receptiei de 4 iulie
Resedinta Ambasadorului SUA
Bucuresti, Romania
4 iulie 2006

Domnule Presedinte,
Domnule Prim Ministru,
Distinsi membri ai Corpului Diplomatic,
Stimati invitati,
Doamnelor si domnilor,

4 iulie – ziua in care ne-am declarat independenta – este o zi foarte speciala pentru americani. In primul rand, este o zi in care nu ne ducem la serviciu, iar acesta este un foarte bun inceput de vara.

Aceasta zi ne ofera posibilitatea de a ne gandi la democratia noastra si la binecuvantarile libertatii; de asemenea, ne face sa ne gandim la ceea ce trebuie sa faca fiecare dintre noi pentru a sustine si a perpetua aceste binecuvantari.

Democratia noastra este o entitate vie, este mai mult decat o simpla declaratie de scop. Este o stare de schimbare continua pe care noi o incurajam pentru a re-analiza scopul tarii noastre si relatia dintre americani si un guvern al poporului. Un astfel de guvern este unul in care nu exista spectatori, ci numai participanti. Este vorba despre oameni mereu atenti, atat prin individualitatea lor, cat si prin institutiile lor, pentru a fi siguri ca niciunul dintre castigurile noastre sacre, obtinute cu mari sacrificii, nu este restrans.

Democratia nu este un sport al spectatorilor. Democratia implica participarea tuturor: elevi, imigranti, organizatii neguvernamentale, birocratie, institutii de invatamant superior – toate celelalte aspecte ale vietii noastre. Ne straduim sa pastram drepturile celor fara aparare: batrani, orfani, persoane cu dizabilitati, saraci si multi altii. Prin democratie construim valori importante si, in acelasi timp, in cadrul experimentului nostru de 230 de ani, ne perpetuam propriul viitor.

Despre acest lucru este vorba – un experiment. Americanii schimba reteta in mod continuu, incercand sa o imbunatateasca si sa o faca mai democratica.

Prin implicare, ne cream cu totii propria miza in aceasta democratie. Ea apartine tuturor si, in acelasi timp, fiecaruia dintre noi.

De aceea sarbatorim astazi libertatea si democratia noastra.

De aceea sarbatorim in fiecare zi principiile noastre.

De aceea sarbatorim ziua de 4 iulie.

Inainte de a-i da cuvantul invitatului nostru special de astazi, as dori sa va adresez cateva cuvinte despre relatiile romano-americane.

In ultimele zile am fost foarte des intrebat despre relatiile noastre. Doresc sa spun doar atat: Romania este unul dintre cei mai buni prieteni ai Americii. Romania este un partener de incredere, nu numai in Afganistan si in Irak, ci in intreaga lume. De exemplu, vara trecuta, Romania si-a deschis usile pentru a acorda azil temporar sutelor de barbati, femei si copii uzbeci care si-au parasit tara natala din cauza persecutiei politice. Astazi, cei mai multi dintre acestia au fost stramutati permanent in Statele Unite, Canada, Australia si in cateva state europene. Acesti oameni isi vor aminti toata viata de generozitatea si ospitalitatea Romaniei – si eu voi face la fel.

Romania stie cum sa-si asume responsabilitatile comune si sa-si duca angajamentele internationale pana la capat. Asa cum ne place noua sa spunem la noi acasa, Romania este o tara “de baza”. Nimic din ceea ce s-a intamplat in ultima saptamana nu ma face sa ma razgandesc in privinta seriozitatii Romaniei ca prieten, partener si aliat ferm.

Va multumesc pentru atentie. Iar acum am onoarea de a-i da cuvantul Presedintelui Romaniei, domnul Traian Basescu.