ROMANIA DEFIES EUROPE TO BACK UNITED STATES

Financial Times ^ | 03/06/2003 | Phelim McAleer

[florinro]

Romania is defying warnings about its future membership of the European Union and positioning itself with the US to ensure it benefits from any postwar reconstruction projects in Iraq.

The government has taken a diplomatic risk by offering its unquestioning support to the US in the face of French and German opposition. France's President Jacques Chirac has told Romania its possible 2007 accession to the EU is in danger because of its support for the US.

Romania, along with other eastern European countries is hoping for a short-term reward in Nato membership and in the long run hopes to benefit from reconstruction contracts.

Adrian Nastase, prime minister, has presented the US with a file outlining how the country wants to benefit from any rebuilding contracts.

Romania was particularly close to Iraq before the 1989 revolution that brought down its communist regime.

The file, outlining Romania's possible contribution, was given by Mr Nastase to Don Evans, US commerce secretary, during a visit to Bucharest last week. According to Mr Nastase the folder contains "projects, ideas and suggestions for future business opportunities especially in the post-Saddam period".

Mr Nastase said the US could benefit from the knowledge gained by the thousands of Romanians who worked in Iraq. "Many of those workers can speak the language and even specialised dialects because of where they were working," said a government official.

Mr Nastase said he wanted US companies to consider working with Romanian businesses after any war.

The government is also looking at recovering a $1.7bn debt owed by Iraq to the communist regime.

Romania was one of the first countries to offer assistance to the US when it started to target Iraq. The government offered its Black Sea airbases and use of its airspace and the parliament recently voted to send non-combat troops to assist an invasion.

The Black Sea bases would be important if Turkey continued its refusal to co-operate in an attack on Iraq.

Other east European nations are hoping to benefit from co-operation with the US. Poland is also looking for repayment of debts and an involvement in reconstruction, while Bulgaria has sought assurances from the US that a new Iraq regime would repay an outstanding $1.7bn.

[florinro]

God bless Romania and United States!

[Trickyguy]

"New Europe" is a collection of nearly bankrupt ex-Communist states. All any of them want is money from the US.

[alisasny]

Good move even smarter when the EU is broken up long before 2007!

[kcvl]

Jacques Chirac has told Romania its possible 2007 accession to the EU is in danger because of its support for the US.

They have started threats now? Bastards!

[max_rpf]

The $$$$ we use to rebuild Iraq will come from the oil fields of Iraq, not the US Treasury.

I rather like the way the article puts it:

1. Romania wants to be involved in the construction projects.
2. They want to be repayed for the debt that Iraq owes to them.

I love the idea. Lets just be sure to give the business that France wants to New Europe.

[LenS]

And that differs from the French how?

[trebb]

Romania probably also understands that if French "judges" had their way, Nadia would have been solid "7s"

[The Wizard]

our thanks to them for standing tall

[Samwise]

"Elendil! I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the Sword that was Broken and is forged again! Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly!" -Aragorn, upon meeting Éomer, The Two Towers

[dc-zoo]

That's worse than a threat from france. Its blackmail.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Romanians have a fresh recollection of domination. The French deny it ever happened to them.

[LibKill]

This is a brave move, and a smart one as well.

[florinro]

Dear "Tricky-guy",
While it is true that one of the reason that Romania is supporting United States is to have its 2 billion debt to Iraq reimbursed, it is also very important to know that Romania is the most pro American country in Europe with the largest majority supporting the Iraq eliberation from a mad dictator.

Do you know why? Romania had been for half a century under Soviet and communist boots.

Read what president George W. Bush said in his recent visit to Romania: "Your country also brings moral clarity to our NATO Alliance. You value freedom because you have lived without it. You know the difference between good and evil because you have seen evil's face. The people of Romania understand that aggressive dictators cannot be appeased or ignored; they must always be opposed."

PS Why America's billions did not buy Turkey?

[Cinnamon Girl]

Attention my holy Romanian brother. But we knew this, didn't we?

[uncbob]

New Europe" is a collection of nearly bankrupt ex-Communist states. All any of them want is money from the US.

what ain't about $$$$$$

[Captain Kirk]

And many of them ruled by ex-Communist surrender monkey parties.

[Captain Kirk]

Uncle Sam will pay for the "nation building" not Iraq. Dubya will do this under the theory that it would not make good strategic sense to "burden" Iraq with this expensive of shelling out the money. Also, the expense will rise so high that we will have to pay out big bucks It is going to be very costly to keep the Shi'tes, Kurds, and Sunni's from engaging in their natural tendency to rip out each other's throats. In other workds, the "new Iraq" will be Bosnia squared with the U.S. soldier and taxpayer caught in the middle.

[11B3]

They want a lot more than money - and in this case they are willing to WORK FOR THE MONEY instead of just expecting it. Their offer isn't the typical patronizing crap from Old Europe. The other thing they want is our alliance to guarantee that they remain FREE from Russian hegemony. You got a problem with any of that???? If so, go to France.

[11B3]

Gee, where have I heard that BS before? Afghanistan? Get a grip - or find your talking points somewhere other than the DLC.

[Consort]