Mark Gitenstein Sworn In As US Ambassador To Romania

Mark Gitenstein was sworn in as Ambassador of the United States of America to Romania by U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden at the Indian Treaty Room at the Eisenhower Executive Building, where the Office of the Vice President is located.

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Imaginea articolului Mark Gitenstein Sworn In As US Ambassador To Romania

Mark Gitenstein Sworn In As US Ambassador To Romania

The ceremony was attended by several American officials, as well as the Romanian charge d’affaires Cristian Gaginsky.

Moreover, in the speech held on the occasion, Gitenstein used several Romanian words addressing the Romanian diplomat, as well as the memory of his Romanian born grandparents. He said in Romanian that this is a return home, to his origins, to the places his gransparents and great grandparents left in the past centuries.

”It is not simply a great honor to represent President Obama but it is also a return to the place from where over a century ago my grandparents came to America, and it is to them that I today pay tribute: To my great grandfather Lewis Bralower and my great grandmother Celia Bralower (of Braila and Iasi), to my grandmother Rose Bralower and especially to my father Seymour Gitenstein. At 94 he still lives in my hometown of Florala, Alabama. I saw him the weekend before last and the essential quality I see in him I see in those who live in Romania today. A tough, resilient, determined people who have been through a lot but who have never lost their sense of humor and their love of life,” Gitenstein said in the speech held at the ceremony.

"The story of Romania in the last two decades is a remarkable one: from Soviet satellite to one of our most loyal and dependable allies; from a paralyzed state-dominated market to the fastest growing economy in Europe before the worldwide recession hit late last year," Gitenstein added.

Gitenstein went on saying “as allies, Romanians don’t simply spout empty rhetoric but have shed their blood with our GIs in the most dangerous precincts of Afghanistan and Iraq. We Americans believe in the words of Shakespeare, that ”he who sheds his blood with me is my brother.””

He added "I have been given very clear instructions going forward: To strengthen and deepen this alliance. To help Romanians to recover from this recession, primarily by increasing U.S. trade and investment with Romania. Which will mean at least in part by increasing transparency, the rule of law, regulatory and administrative reform. And by broadening and energizing the commitment to tolerance and the rights of minorities that we already see from courageous leaders like President Basescu."

Gitenstein concluded his speech using president Obama’s campaign slogan - "Yes we can".

 

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