Posted on 01/12/2002 2:14:54 PM PST by GrandMoM
News headline Retrieved
Gay Ambassador Troubles Embassy Staff
Story: Little attention was drawn to Michael Guest's homosexual relationship with his "partner" during his confirmation process as President Bush's ambassador to Romania. However, those working under Guest in Bucharest now find it difficult to avoid his flaunting of the relationship, according to an American embassy worker who recently spoke with FRC.
Although Guest had been active in a gay and lesbian group within the State Department, he was not publicly identified as being homosexual until his swearing-in on September 18, when Secretary of State Colin Powell acknowledged Guest's "partner," Alex Nevarez, during the ceremony.
Nevarez, a former teacher, relocated to Romania with Guest and now lives with him there in the residence provided to the ambassador by the U.S. government.
According to our source, several families in the embassy community have expressed concern about the ambassador's living arrangement, and at least one will no longer bring their children to embassy social events because they do not want them exposed to the example set by Guest and his "partner."
For example, Guest and Nevarez escorted one another as a couple at the embassy's annual Marine Corps Ball, a highly formal event. "It's causing me to have to compromise the values I raise my family by," the source said.
The appointment of Guest to serve in Romania showed a particular cultural insensitivity, given that the country is a stronghold of the conservative Eastern Orthodox Church.
Our source indicated that the Orthodox Church is represented at virtually all government ceremonies in Romania. One Romanian professor, in a letter to a Bucharest daily newspaper, said that "Romanians . . . cannot comprehend homosexual acts in any other way but as a deviation from the natural order and the world created by the Lord," and he noted that the Guest appointment "generates bewilderment, indignation, and disgust among the Romanians."
Romanian laws relating to homosexuality were recently liberalized, but only under coercion from the European Union, to which Romania hopes to gain entrance. Although Guest has denied he will promote a "gay agenda" as ambassador, his mere presence in Bucharest is already having that effect.
Another person serving at the embassy held a meeting in November to encourage leaders of Romania's fledgling "gay movement." And some embassy employees fear that Bucharest will gain a reputation as a "gay-friendly" post, so that more homosexuals will request assignment there. Ambassador Guest's treatment of same-sex "partners" (including his own) as the equivalent of married spouses is a mere half step away from government endorsement of "same-sex marriage." Not only does this violate the spirit of the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman), but it is also a distraction from the important work of our embassy in Romania.
Huh?
Sad but true. I feel for those Marines in Bucharest, having to invite that rump-ranger ambassador and his plaything to their Corps' birthday bash.
There goes your objectivity. Are you saying that Ambassador Guest accompanying his boyfriend to the Marine Ball is being discreet? Please.
I am through talking to you.....
I'll bet most of the soldiers overseas don't realize that Stars & Stripes (the newspaper) is infested with them. I know, I used to work there and have stayed in contact with my hetero friend who is so disgusted, he's looking for another job.
Perhaps he could be reassigned to the middle east? Their compadres here have been b*tching alot about "tolerance", lets see how tolerant they are over there.
I suppose you feel that homosexuality is morally equivalent to heterosexual marriage. If that's the way you feel, then there is no point in arguing with you. Your definition of morality and mine are too different to find common ground.
by Luminita Holban
Less than a month after arriving here, the new American Ambassador already feels that 24 hours in a day are not enough for everything he needs to do. It reminds him of what he considers his best posting so far, as a member of the US delegation to the ‘two plus four’ negotiations that led to the fall of the Berlin wall.
“I was on the road half the time, I would spend a week in Europe, then go back in Washington,” he recalled. “I slept in my office, I ran around the Department of State in tennis shoes, I showered in the basement because there was so much work to do. But it was a fascinating time for anyone to be involved in.”
Though he hopes his time in Romania will be less hectic than that, he is looking forward to an equally fascinating experience here.
The 44-year old diplomat has already confronted several challenges in his new job. One of them was the discovery that his predecessor, Jim Rosapepe, is a tough act to follow. But Guest is not intimidated. “I know my predecessor liked to be involved in everything, but so do I. Those who know me know that I’m very hands-on. I want to get out in the country, see how people live, what their concerns are, and what they need from the United States.” In at least one respect Guest’s policy will be quite different from Rosapepe’s: He plans to strengthen the Embassy’s commercial section and bring a greater number of business-related issues under its wing.
“My predecessor moved the action outside of the Embassy,” he said. “We’re now doing the opposite. We have a commercial section and a full-time American employee, Jonathan Marks.”
Strengthening US-Romanian business relations will be high on Guest’s agenda, as he will attempt to repair the damage in investor confidence created by less-than-successful experiences. “I said publicly I would like by the time I leave for the United States to be the top investor here, but I realize that’s not very likely to happen unless there’s a change in the investment climate,” he said.
U.S. AMBASSADOR MICHAEL GUEST’S FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE FOR ROMANIAN JOURNALISTS
OPENING STATEMENT
First, let me say how pleased and honored I am to have been appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania. I’ve received a very warm welcome from the Government and people of Romania. I appreciate very much President Iliescu agreeing to receive me so quickly after my arrival. I have had constructive talks with him, with Prime Minister Nastase, and with Foreign Minister Geoana, and last night met a number of American business members in the Bucharest community. I hope to have the opportunity soon to travel and to meet with Romanian citizens all across this wonderful country.
I’d like to express particular appreciation for many expressions of sympathy I have received from Romanians about the tragic events of September 11. Many of you have offered your condolences personally to me; other have left flowers and signed the condolence book at the Embassy; still others have written to officials in Washington some very moving letters, many of which I’ve had the chance to read. These messages speak of the strong ties that underscore the excellent relations between our countries and our peoples.
I also appreciate the strong stance that the Government of Romania has taken against terrorism, and its offer to be of assistance as the United States considers how to respond to the attacks on the Pentagon and Word Trade Center. These attacks were in some measure attacks against symbols of America. But in a larger way, they were attacks against all of us – against our daily lives, against our civilization, as we have known it. We look forward to working with all concerned governments and institutions as we seek to put a stop to this terrible evil.
Romania is such a wonderful country, and the United States has long enjoyed positive relations with its Government and its people. My goal, during my time in this country, is to build on our relations in order to make our partnership even stronger.
One of the most important issues in our bilateral relationship is Romania’s interest in joining the NATO alliance. Clearly, this is a high priority issue for Romania. As many of you know, much of my career has been devoted to NATO issues, and I believe strongly that the Alliance should be enlarged to include other countries that share our Western beliefs and values and that can contribute to our common security. Already Romania has shown, in response to the events of September 11, that it shares our abhorrence of terrorism and is willing to act like an ally in defending against future such threats. And already the Government of Romania is working to reform its military, and to participate proudly in peacekeeping activities in the region. I look forward to working with the Government as it accelerates its preparations for possible NATO membership in the coming months.
There are other priorities that I also intend to address. The new Government has taken some impressive decisions to move forward with privatizing some state-owned concerns that have sapped the economy and made it harder to carry forward with economic reform. But further reform is needed if Romania is to grow the economy and ensure the prosperity of its citizens. My government can offer advice and assistance in this area.
I also will devote attention to how we can work together to strengthen the rule of law – an important issue that no doubt will be discussed as NATO leaders took toward a decision next year on what countries share our value system and should be invited to join the Alliance. Romania needs to tackle its corruption problem, increase transparency in business dealings, and reduce the red tape that not only fosters corruption but makes life for ordinary citizens so much more difficult than it should be. I also want to work with Romania and with the Southeastern Europe Cooperative Initiative to strengthen the fight against human trafficking. In all of these areas I will offer America’s assistance as a helping partner and friend.
Again, I’m very happy to be in Romania and look forward to working vigorously with you to build ever stronger relations between our governments and peoples.
Then well the hell are you here?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.