September 12, 2005
Good day, Mr. President, distinguished guests and Embassy colleagues. Welcome to the American Cultural Center.
We are here today to remember the victims of the September 11 attacks in New York and in Washington, along with the families and the loved ones they left behind. They were not just Americans, but citizens of the world, from some 80 nationalities, including Romania. We recall the good lives that ended too soon, the determination of rescuers who saw death and did not flee, the courage of the airline passengers who fought the terrorists who had taken them captive. The image of the Twin Towers in flames became an emblem, a solemn one, for our times.
Since then, we have seen other terrorist attacks around the world, attacks in Madrid, in Bali, in Sharm-el-Sheik, in London, designed to shake the foundations of a world of freedom, democracy, progress and culture that perhaps we had too often taken for granted.
No more. We are confronting this challenge, shoulder to shoulder with our partners like Romania. Romanian troops — with great distinction – serve alongside our soldiers and those of other coalition members, in Iraq, in Afghanistan. But the war on terrorism is about much more than military operations. We and you are partners in law enforcement operations, in gathering vital intelligence, in disrupting terrorist finance networks, in seeking common approaches to safeguarding our principles and way of life through diplomacy and by promoting mutual understanding.
We oppose any ideology of hatred and fear. Our objective is to create a lasting community of democracies, which can develop and prosper free from the threat of terror. Romania has an important role in that mission, through NATO, through its impending membership in the EU, and as a standard-bearer for progress and reform in this region.
We will persevere. We will persevere, too, in confronting the disastrous flooding in both of our countries this summer, likewise working together and providing each other support. And we will overcome these difficulties and become stronger and wiser for them. Our resolve to make a brighter future for our two countries, and a better world for our children, is unbroken.
It is now my distinct honor to introduce President Basescu, as he prepares to depart for the United States tomorrow, and to ask him to say a few words.
12 Septembrie 2005
Buna ziua, domnule Presedinte, distinsi oaspeti si colegi din ambasada. Bine ati venit la Centrul Cultural American !
Ne aflam astazi aici pentru a comemora victimele atacurilor din 11 septembrie din New York si Washington si pentru a fi alaturi de familiile lor si de cei dragi care au ramas in urma. Toti acestia nu au fost doar americani, ci oameni din toata lumea, din aproximativ 90 de tari, inclusiv Romania. Ne aducem astazi aminte de vietile lor care au fost curmate prea curand, de hotararea salvatorilor care nu au fugit din calea mortii, de curajul pasagerilor care s-au luptat cu teroristii care ii luasera ostatici. Imaginea Turnurilor Gemene in flacari a devenit o emblema solemna a timpurilor noastre.
De atunci, au avut loc si alte atentate teroriste peste tot in lume, la Madrid, Bali, Sharm-el-Sheik sau Londra, menite sa zguduie fundatiile unei lumi a libertatii, democratiei, progresului si culturii pe care adeseori le-am considerat de la sine intelese.
Dar nu si acum. Ne confruntam cu aceasta provocare impreuna cu partenerii nostri, cum ar fi Romania. Soldatii romani isi indeplinesc cu succes misiunea alaturi de trupele noastre si de cele ale membrilor coalitiei, in Irak si Afganistan. Dar razboiul impotriva terorismului implica mai mult decat operatiuni militare. Noi si tara dumneavoastra suntem parteneri in cadrul operatiunilor de aplicare a legii, de strangere de informatii, de distrugere a retelelor de finantare a teroristilor si de identificare a unor abordari comune pentru apararea principiilor noastre si a modului nostru de viata, prin intermediul diplomatiei si al promovarii intelegerii reciproce.
Ne opunem oricarei ideologii a urii si a terorii. Obiectivul nostru este acela de a crea o comunitate durabila a democratiilor, care sa se dezvolte si sa prospere fara teama terorii. Romania are un rol important in cadrul acestei misiuni, prin intermediul NATO si al viitorului statut de membru al Uniunii Europene, acela de model de reforma si progres in aceasta regiune.
Vom perservera. Vom persevera si in ceea ce priveste dezastrele provocate de inundatiile din aceasta vara, in ambele tari. Vom colabora si ne vom oferi sprijin reciproc. Vom depasi aceste dificultati si vom deveni mai puternici si mai intelepti. Hotararea noastra de a construi un viitor mai luminos pentru tarile noastre si o lume mai buna pentru copiii nostri este de neclintit.
Am acum deosebita onoare de a da cuvantul Presedintelui Basescu, inainte de plecarea domniei sale in Statele Unite maine, si de a-l ruga sa spuna cateva cuvinte.