Romanians can very confidently look at the future, says President Basescu

From now on, the Romanians can look with much confidence at the future, President Traian Basescu stated in Brussels on Thursday.

The Romanian chief of state, Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev attended the manifestations dedicated to Romania and Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union, a show far from solemn, but full of joy and enthusiasm.

“I am happy. It’s the end of a stage. Transition is over. We can really say that the Romanians have finished the effort of transition, but they now face another effort, that of integration, that will many a time be just as costly as that of getting prepared for European Union membership. However, we also have a great certitude: that the Romanians can look with great confidence at the future. We are no longer in the gray area where uncertainty looms, but there where we should be,” said the Romanian chief of state at the end of the ceremony.

“There are 17 years since the Romanian Revolution. These were 17 years of effort and sacrifice for the 22 million of Romanians. Our success was possible because the 22 million people accepted the sacrifice, under the drive of joining Europe,” said Traian Basescu.

The President said that in the 17 years of steady efforts, Europe has taught the Romanians the lesson of solidarity, the more so as in all this time the Romanians were not left by themselves, but enjoyed assistance and support from the European Commission and other EU member states.

In the context, Traian Basescu thanked the 22 million-strong population in Romania and the 8 million who live beyond the country’s borders throughout the world because, as the President underscored, they equally enjoy the success of Romania, the success of Europe.

“Allow me to also be happy for the success of the Romanians and of United Europe. We dedicate our success to the young generation of Romania. The youth no longer need to go through a transition period. Whilst we had the mission to bring Romania inside the European Union, the task of the young generation is to take advantage of the statute of EU member,” said Basescu.

In the end, the Romanian President thanked Europe “for having received us back,” and wished everybody “Merry Christmas” and “A Happy New Year.”

In the cheers of the audience, that waved flags of the two new entrants and of the European Union, the map of Europe made of gingerbread and marzipan was unveiled, to which President Traian Basescu and Premier Calin Popescu-Tariceanu attached the piece representing Romania.
Asked, at the end of the ceremony, if he tasted the gingerbread, Basescu said he would not want to be the one to eat Romania. “I would want to be the one to dine on Romania. There are enough many others who want to swallow her,” Traian Basescu said laughing.

A Bulgarian, the colors of his country in his hand, asked Basescu to put his signature on it, alongside the President of the European Commission. After one moment’s hesitation, Traian Basescu fulfilled his request. “I usually hesitate to sign on someone’s national colors. I would not sign on Romania’s colors,” concluded the Romanian President. ROMPRES