DATE=7/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235497
TITLE=CONGRESS-ROMANIA (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  ROMANIA'S PRESIDENT HAS MADE A DIRECT APPEAL TO THE U-S  
CONGRESS TO BACK HIS COUNTRY'S BID TO JOIN NATO.  IN A SPEECH TO 
A JOINT MEETING OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE, EMIL CONSTANTINESCU SAID
THE ROMANIAN PEOPLE WANT TO SHARE THE BURDEN OF SECURING A 
PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR ALL OF EUROPE.  V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON 
REPORTS.

TEXT:  PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU SAYS THE ROMANIANS WHO BROUGHT 
DOWN THE CEAUSESCU DICTATORSHIP IN 1989 PAID A BLOODY PRICE FOR 
FREEDOM.

                    ////CONSTANTINESCU ACT///

         OVER 12-HUNDRED OF THEM PAID DEARLY, WITH THEIR LIVES, 
         AND THOUSANDS MORE WERE INJURED DURING THE 
         ANTI-COMMUNIST REVOLUTION IN ROMANIA.

                         ////END ACT////

BUT HE SAYS THE ROMANIAN PEOPLE SOON LEARNED A LESSON -- THAT 
OBTAINING FREEDOM IS NOT ENOUGH.

                   ////CONSTANTINESCU ACT////

         FREEDOM MUST BE MAINTAINED AND DEFENDED ON A CONSTANT 
         BASIS.  I FEEL THE BEST WAY TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE IS BY
         WORKING TOGETHER IN COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER 
         NATIONS.

                         ////END ACT////

DURING HIS SPEECH TO A JOINT MEETING OF CONGRESS, MR. 
CONSTANTINESCU SAID ROMANIA IS A KEY TO STABILITY IN SOUTHEASTERN
EUROPE.  HE SAID ROMANIA WANTS TO SHARE THE BURDEN OF DEFENDING 
ALL EUROPE AS A MEMBER OF NATO, AND A TRUSTED ALLY OF THE UNITED 
STATES.

                    ////CONSTANTINESCU ACT///

         IN ORDER TO BUILD A FULLY PROSPEROUS, DEMOCRATIC AND 
         STABLE EUROPE -- ONE THAT STRETCHES FROM THE ATLANTIC TO
         THE URALS AND BEYOND -- THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO 
         ANCHOR ITS POLICIES TO COUNTRIES ON EUROPE'S 
         SOUTHEASTERN FLANK THAT SHARE ITS DEMOCRATIC IDEALS AND 
         ITS COMMITMENT TO THE REGION'S STABILITY.

                         ////END ACT////

ROMANIA WAS NOT AMONG THE FIRST EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES 
INVITED TO JOIN NATO.  THAT INITIAL GROUP INCLUDED HUNGARY, 
POLAND AND THE CZECH  REPUBLIC. THE ROMANIANS HOPE TO BE INCLUDED
IN THE SECOND ROUND OF NATO EXPANSION.(SIGNED)

NEB/PW/LTD/JO

15-Jul-98 12:09 PM EDT (1609 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.