Foreign relations of Romania

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Since December 1989, Romania has pursued a policy of strengthening relations with the West in general, more specifically with the United States and the European Union.

Romania joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 1972, and is a member of the World Trade Organization. It joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on March 29, 2004 and the European Union (EU) on January 1, 2007.

The current government has stated its goal of strengthening ties with and helping other Eastern European countries (in particular Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia) with the process of integration with the West. Romania has also made clear over the past 10 years that it supports NATO and EU membership for the democratic former Soviet republics in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

[edit] European Union

Main article: Romanian membership of the European Union

It joined the European Union (EU) on January 1, 2007.

Romania also declared its public support for Turkey and Croatia joining the European Union. Romania shares a privileged economic relation with Turkey.

Romania has developed strong relations with Hungary, with the latter playing a key role in supporting Romania's bid to join the EU.

[edit] NATO

Main article: NATO and Romania

Romania joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on March 29, 2004 following the decision taken at the Prague Summit, in November 2002. For Romania, this has represented a major evolution, with decisive influence on the foreign and domestic policy of the country. NATO membership represents the guarantee of security and external stability, which is vital for ensuring the prosperous development of the country. Romania is playing an active role in promoting the values and objectives of the Alliance, by both participating in the operations and missions of the Alliance and involving in its conceptual initiatives and evolutions. Romania together with other partner and member states brings a strong contribution to the coalition against terrorism by rooting out the funding for terrorist activities i.e. trafficking in drugs, women; clamping down on illegal arms sales; strengthening border security and greater law enforcement cooperation and coordination; sharing intelligence both internally and externally in a way never seen before; and, by providing military and logistical support to the campaign in Afghanistan.

[edit] United States

In December 2005, President Traian Băsescu and United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed an agreement that would allow a U.S. military presence at several Romanian facilities primarily in the eastern part of the country.^[1]

[edit] Moldova

Main articles: Romanian-Moldovan relations and Movement for unification of Romania and Moldova

Relations with Moldova are rather special, considering that the two countries share the language, and a fairly common historical background. Historically, most of what is today the Republic of Moldova was a part of the medieval Principality of Moldavia and a part of Romania during the interwar period. Signs in the early 1990s that Romania and Moldova might reunite after both countries achieved emancipation from communist rule quickly faded and relations between the two states have been somewhat strained since 1994. Romania remains interested in Moldovan affairs, especially that country's civil conflict with the breakaway republic of Transnistria. However, the two countries have been unable to reach agreement on a basic bilateral treaty; Romania is insistent (against determined Moldovan resistance) that such a treaty would have to refer to Romania and Moldova's 'special relationship'.

Map of a unified Romanian-Moldovan state as advocated by the Unionist Movement.

[edit] Palestinian National Authority

Main article: Romania–Palestine relations

Relations between Romanians and Palestinians are considered to be very close and warm as Bucharest advocates for an independent Palestinian state and an end to the on-going Israeli illegal occupation of its territories. As its official stance, which is advocated for a two state solution as the best solution to the conflict. Romania is one of the 100 countries to recognise Palestine as a Nation-state since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence on November 15, 1988.

[edit] Sudan

As with very much most of the Eastern European countries, Sudan has enjoyed a historically close and strongly friendly relationship with Romania. The two countries have a long history of political and cultural contact and the East African country is home to a sizeable population of Romanian immigrants. Romania and Sudan also have productive economic ties [[4]].

[edit] Military relations and peacekeeping missions

Romania was a partner to the allied forces during the Gulf war, particularly during its service as president of the UN Security Council. Romania has been active in peacekeeping operations in UNAVEM in Angola, IFOR/SFOR in Bosnia, in Albania, in Afghanistan and has sent 860 troops in Iraq after the invasion led by the United States.

All of the Romanian troops were withdrawn from Iraq after their missions ended on June 4, 2009.^[2]

Romania enforced United Nations' sanctions against the Yugoslavia. Despite divisions within the Parliament and among the people, Romania supported NATO in the Kosovo campaign and granted approval for NATO to overfly Romanian airspace. It was the first country to enroll in NATO's Partnership for Peace program, later joining NATO in 2004.

Romania also is a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC).

[edit] Regional relations

In 1996, Romania signed and ratified a basic bilateral treaty with Hungary that settled outstanding disagreements, laying the foundation for closer, more cooperative relations. In June 1997, Romania signed a bilateral treaty with Ukraine that, among other concerned, resolved territorial and minority issues that had impeded the development of improved relations between the two countries.

Romania has been actively involved in regional organizations, such as the Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI) and the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, and has played a key role in supporting stability and cooperation in the area.

Romania maintains good diplomatic relations with Israel and was supportive of the Middle East peace negotiations initiated after the Gulf conflict in 1991. Romania also is a founding member of the Black Sea Consortium for Economic Development.

Following Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in February 2008, Romania has decided not to recognize it^[3]

[edit] Disputes - international

Dispute with Ukraine over the construction of the Bastroe Channel.
Dispute with Russia over the Romanian Treasure.

[edit] International organizations

This are the international organizations which Romania is a part of:

ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EEA, EU, FAO, Francophonie. G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, SEECP, SPSEE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, Zangger Committee.

Romania is a member of the United Nations,^[4] the OECD^[5] and the OSCE,^[6] a member state of the NATO and the Council of Europe as well as member of the European Union.

Romania entered NATO in 2004 and serves as the organization's vital eastern anchor, controlling the Black Sea and sharing a border with Ukraine. The United States has maintained air forces at a Romanian base called Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport in the county of Constanţa.

Romania is also member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It has signed free trade agreements with the Moldova, Israel, and many other countries. In 1992, Romania and 10 other regional nations formed the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council to expand regional trade and economic cooperation.

[edit] Relations by country

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Armenia	1992	See Armenia–Romania relations Armenia has an embassy in Bucharest.^[7] Romania has an embassy in Yerevan.^[8] Both countries are full members of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
Australia	1968-03-18	Australia has it non-resident embassador in its embassy in Belgrade (Serbia), and has a consulate general in Bucharest. Romania has an embassy in Canberra and a general consulate in Sydney.^[9] Romania and Australia have concluded an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, signed in 1994, a Trade and Economic Agreement (signed with full effect for Australia in July 2002 and for Romania in January 2003) and an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion, signed in 2001. ^[10]
Austria		See Austria–Romania relations
Azerbaijan		See Azerbaijan–Romania relations
Belarus		See Belarus–Romania relations
Belgium		See Belgium–Romania relations
Bosnia and Herzegovina		See Bosnia and Herzegovina – Romania relations
Bulgaria		See Bulgaria–Romania relations Bulgaria has an embassy in Bucharest.^[11] Romania has an embassy in Sofia and 2 honorary consulates (in Burgas and Silistra).^[12]
Canada		See Canada–Romania relations
Chad	1969-07-15	See Chad–Romania relations Neither country has an embassy in the other's capital, and although an agreement on trade was signed in 1969, followed by an agreement on economic and technical cooperation in 1971, as of 2007^[update], the volume of bilateral trade remained insignificant.^[13]
Chile	1925-02-05	See Chile–Romania relations In 1965 the diplomatic relations were renewed. Even though most of the Eastern European countries broke their relations with Chile after 1973. Romania and the former Yugoslavia kept their representations in Santiago and the Chilean government didn't close their offices in Belgrade and Bucharest. Chile has an embassy in Bucharest and honorary consulates in Braşov and Cluj-Napoca.^[14] Romania has an embassy in Santiago.^[15] Chilean Foreign Ministry about relations with Romania (in Spanish)
Croatia		See Croatia–Romania relations
Cyprus	1960-08-16	Romania has an embassy in Nicosia since November 1960.^[16] Cyprus has an embassy in Bucharest. Cyprus joined the European Union as a full member on May 1, 2004, while Romania joined on January 1, 2007. Cyprus Foreign Ministry: list of bilateral treaties between Cyprus and Romania Romanian Foreign Ministry about relations with Cyprus
Czech Republic		See Czech Republic – Romania relations
Denmark		See Denmark–Romania relations
Egypt		See Egypt–Romania relations
Estonia		See Estonia–Romania relations
Ethiopia		See Ethiopia–Romania relations
Finland		See Finland–Romania relations
France		See France–Romania relations
Georgia		See Georgia–Romania relations
Germany		See Germany–Romania relations
Greece		See Greco–Romanian relations
Holy See		See Holy See – Romania relations
Hungary		See Hungary–Romania relations
India		See India–Romania relations
Indonesia		See Indonesia–Romania relations
Iran		See Iran–Romania relations
Iraq		See Iraq–Romania relations
Ireland		See Ireland–Romania relations
Israel		See Israel–Romania relations
Italy		See Italy–Romania relations
Japan		See Japan–Romania relations
Kazakhstan		See Kazakhstan–Romania relations
Kenya		See Kenya–Romania relations
Latvia		See Latvia–Romania relations
Lebanon		See Lebanon–Romania relations
Lithuania		See Lithuania–Romania relations
Luxembourg		See Luxembourg–Romania relations
Malaysia		See Malaysia–Romania relations
Mexico		See Mexico–Romania relations
Moldova		See Moldovan-Romanian relations
Montenegro		See Montenegro–Romania relations
Morocco		See Morocco–Romania relations
Netherlands		See Netherlands–Romania relations
Norway		See Norway–Romania relations
Pakistan		See Pakistan–Romania relations
Palestine		See Romania–Palestine relations
People's Republic of China		See People's Republic of China – Romania relations
Philippines		See Philippines–Romania relations
Poland		See Poland–Romania relations
Portugal		See Portugal–Romania relations
Russia		See Romania–Russia relations
Saudi Arabia		See Romania – Saudi Arabia relations
Serbia		See Romania–Serbia relations
Singapore		See Romania–Singapore relations
Slovakia		See Romania–Slovakia relations
Slovenia		See Romania–Slovenia relations
South Africa	1990-11-16	Romania has an embassy in Pretoria and a consulate-general in Cape Town. South Africa has an embassy in Bucharest. South African Department of Foreign Affairs about relations with Romania
South Korea		See Romania – South Korea relations
Spain		See Romania–Spain relations
Sweden		See Romania–Sweden relations
Switzerland		See Romania–Switzerland relations
Syria		See Romania–Syria relations
Thailand		Romania has an embassy in Bangkok and an honorary consulate in Pattaya.^[17] Thailand has an embassy in Bucharest.^[18]
Tunisia		See Romania–Tunisia relations
Turkey		See Romanian–Turkish relations
Ukraine		See Romania–Ukraine relations
United Kingdom		See Romania – United Kingdom relations
United States	1880	See Romania – United States relations The U.S. maintains an embassy in Bucharest, Romania. Romania maintains an embassy in Washington, DC. The Romanian Mission to the UN, the Romanian National Tourist Office, and the Romanian Cultural Center are in New York City.
Uzbekistan	1995-10-06	See Romania–Uzbekistan relations Romania recognized Uzbekistan’s independence on December 20, 1991. Romania has an embassy in Tashkent, although Uzbekistan does not have any representation in Romania.^[19]