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Romania: In or Out of the
Anglo-American Axis?
Manuela
Paraipan - 8/30/2005
From the beginning of his mandate as a President of Romania, Traian
Basescu declared himself a supporter of the so-called Axis of
Washington-London-Bucharest. The idea was received with a cold attitude by
the European powers, especially by the Germans and the French - long time
friends of the country. Nonetheless, it became the leit motif of Romania's
foreign policy.
But apparently the interest for this friendship
axis is almost non-existent from both the UK and the USA. When the
Romanian authorities asked for a visa-free entry in England and America
for the Romanian citizens, the response was a clear and concise 'no'! But,
when the Romanian troops were needed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere on
this globe, the answer was "Yes, Sir!"
Some felt that there is
something wrong with this picture. Is Romania a friend country of the
world powers? Or merely their hobbyhorse?
For over half a year now,
the United States delayed sending an Ambassador in Romania. Ever since
Ambassador Crouch ended mission, this official position has been
available. Most of the politicians, from both the opposition and the
ruling alliance see it to the very least as a sign of indifference towards
Romania. What's the point of having an axis, but no Ambassador to work
with?
A former Foreign Minister, and member of the Commission for
Foreign Affairs of the Senate, Teodor Melescanu said "the situation we are
confronting with is not one that makes us content. The presence of an
Ambassador is very important for the diplomatic contacts between the two
countries."
Vasile Puscas, opposition deputy and former Minister of
European Integration declared "from the point of view of the diplomatic
principles, when a state delays the appointment of an Ambassador in other
country, it means there is no interest toward that respective country; no
geostrategic interest, geopolitic or economic interest. Objectively,
between Romania and USA functions the Strategic Partnership that would
request the presence of an Ambassador."
Anca Petrescu, member of
the PRM nationalist party in Parliament believes that "the axis is not
compromise, but we should not count only on this axis [?] we should not
forget the relations we have developed with other states."
Eugen
Mihaescu, Vice-President of the Commission of Foreign Affairs in the
Senate when asked about this issue said "well, but who is the Romanian
Ambassador in Washington? Is the Ambassador of Iliescu! Anyway, the fact
that we do not have an American Ambassador in Bucharest is showing the
extraordinary interest of the Americans to maintain a good working
relation with Romania.
Generally speaking, with all the efforts of
our young Foreign Minister, the foreign policy of our country is
unchanged, frozen into a refrigerator since the times of Gheorghiu Dej,
Ceausescu, Iliescu and now, President Basescu."
But, besides being
ignored by the USA, Romania is not in good terms with its European
partners, either. This summer was an agitated one; there were catastrophic
floods, political disagreements between the President and the Prime
Minister and between the opposition and the ruling alliance; the economy
also suffered because of the euro and dollar fluctuation, the increasing
number of the unemployed people, and the numerous social and civic
frustrations.
Olli Rehn, the EU enlargement Commissioner expressed
in various circumstances, that if Romania or Bulgaria cannot or do not
want to implement the reforms asked by the EU, then their membership
should be postponed.
If this were to happen, Romania will lose more
than 2 billion euro, money offered by the EU for the socio-political and
economical reform of the country.
In this regard, Mihai Razvan
Ungureanu stated that the EU officials in spite of their critiques do not
have a plan B in case Romania and Bulgaria fail to join the EU in January
2007. Ungureanu said: "Not even the Brussels bureaucracy has considered
the accession of Romania and Bulgaria in 2008. There is much trust that
the two states will accomplish missions and become members of the EU in
January 1, 2007."
Guenther Beckstein, Interior Minister of Bavaria
declared to Reuters that the referendums in France and the Netherlands
proved that the accelerated enlargement of the European Union would be
further criticized by the European citizens. Therefore, the January 2007
or even 2008 is probably premature" for both Romania's and Bulgaria's
accession.
With a poor Romanian lobby for the accession, with a
political class lacking the stamina to urge clear reforms, with a justice
obedient to the interests of various politicians and mafia bosses, the
chances of seeing an European Romanian any time soon are indeed very
low.
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