The Year 2001 commemorates the tenth year since CORA was formally incorporated. Over the last 10 years, CORA has realized steady, positive growth in numbers and reputation. It is most grateful for the support it has received from all directions.

The Chamber of Deputies on 16 January approved a law for the restitution of dwellings nationalized by the communist regime, Mediafax reported. The vote was 222 in favor and 73 against, with one deputy abstaining. The law was opposed by the Greater Romania Party. The chamber voted to accept the version of the law approved last year by a mediation commission of the two houses of the parliament, after they had separately voted on different versions. Since the Senate has already approved the mediation commission's version, the law can be promulgated by President Ion Iliescu, unless an appeal is launched at the Constitutional Court within five days.

Mark Meyer, Vice President of CORA, Chairman of the Romanian and Moldovan American Chambers of Commerce and partner in the law firm Herzfeld and Rubin, P.C., sent a strong message last week to the new president of Romania. The letter, which reminds the President that he has been afforded a second chance to return Romania and Romanians to prosperity, should be read by all Romanian Americans and all others interested in Romania's people. It is to the point and enlightening. The letter can be accessed by going to the law firm's website: www.hr.ro. then to Romanian Digest and click on Dear Mr. President.

On December 15, 2000, CORA arranged for a meeting with Senator George Voinovich, Union and League President, Georgeta Washington, "America" Assistant Editor, Doina Petrilă and CORA President, Armand Scala.

Ms. Washington and Ms. Petrilă complimented the former Governor of Ohio on the fine work he did in serving the people of Ohio. She told Senator Voinovich that the Union and League of Romanian Societies of America would try to use the voting power of its large Ohio population to move their political representatives in Washington to address their issues and concerns.

Mr. Scala discussed, with those present, the recent election in Romania and the New Republican administration in the U.S. Mr. He reminded the Senator and his Foreign Affairs staff member that representations made by the now new President of Romania, Ion Iliescu, were those we expect him to honor.

Mr. Scala also emphasized that the current economic situation, in his opinion, demanded the appointment of a "career" U.S. diplomat as the U.S. Ambassador to Romania. U.S. policy toward Romania can best be communicated by a "career" diplomat sitting in our Embassy in Bucharest. The Senator made a special point with his staff person that this be noted and he seemed to be in agreement.

Senator Voinovich has taken a special interest in Southeastern Europe and Romania. His heritage is Slovak.

Mr. Scala met Senator Voinovich and his wife in Bucharest in July of 2000.

President of the United States, William Clinton, sent a letter congratulating Romanian Americans on their collective contribution to American society.

White House rules prohibit the transmission of the letter on the Internet. The letter has, and will appear in different Romanian American publications. Three copies can be seen at the Headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in Grass Lake, MI, at the office of the Congress of Romanian Americans in McLean Virginia, and at the Romanian Embassy in Washington, DC.

On October 26^th, 27^th, and 28^th the Congress Of Romanian Americans held its annual meeting at the Best Western Hotel in Falls Church, VA, a suburb of Washington, DC.

The activities opened with a meeting at the White House with staff members from the National Security Council (NSC), the Department of State and the Agency for International Development. The "off the record" meeting covered the future for Yugoslavia's neighbors, including Romania, and was opened by Greg Schulte, Special Assistant to the President and Sr. Director for Southeast European Affairs (NS). US/Romania bilateral relationships were discussed, including political relationships, NATO enlargement, and new AID programs also were covered.

A Thursday evening business meeting welcomed two new members to CORA: The Union and League of Romanian American Societies, represented primarily by Georgeta Washington, and the Reach To Romania, Inc. organization, represented by Diane Şerban. Other business included the selection of the CORA Board of Directors and officers. The CORA Board will convene again in Detroit, MI in six months time.

Following breakfast on Friday, a panel of representatives from the US government and other organizations reported on how their organizations can facilitate conducting business in Romania. The programs of the Export-Import Bank, the Romanian Enterprise Fund, the Commerce Department, the Technical Development Agency and The Overseas Private Investment Corp. were described.

Participating on a panel discussing legal matters was Mark Meyer, a CORA Vice President, Chairman of the Romanian and Moldovan Chambers of Commerce and a partner in the law firm of Herzfeld & Rubin, headquartered in New York City with offices in Bucharest. Mr. Meyer spoke on commercial realities, the law, taxation, etc., and practical aspects of doing business in Romania. He discussed the discouragement of the international business community in Romania after the government retroactively took away previously promised incentives that brought companies to Romania.

Because the "return of properties" is of major interest to Romanian Americans, Simona Iacob, a practicing attorney in Bucharest specializing in these property issues, was invited to the CORA conference. She reviewed the newly proposed legislation and entertained questions.

The luncheon speaker, Paul Goble, scholar, author, and nationally prominent speaker on the former Soviet Bloc, said that Romania faces new challenges from both the East and the West. Russia will do everything to keep Romania and others from integrating into the EU and NATO. The West's becoming more isolationist will adversely affect Romania...

Two panelists, an economist from Plan-Econ, Inc., and a political analyst from the National Democratic Institute (NDI), both very familiar with Romania, spoke in depth about the country. The economist remarked that there are positive signs of a turn around: exports are booming and despite a devastating flood, GDP is expected to grow 1.5% for the year. The NDI representative commented that Ion Iliescu's and PDSR's anticipated sweeping victory in the upcoming elections would likely bring increased political stability, but it is uncertain what the opposition's victory will mean for Romania's democratic and economic transition. From a long term perspective, the speaker was sanguine that Romania would be able to overcome many of its current socio-political difficulties.

Speakers from the Armenian Assembly and the Polish American Congress spoke as representatives of the Central and East European Coalition (CEEC), a coalition of 19 national member organizations that meet every week in Washington, DC. The CEEC organizations represent up to 22 million Americans with Central and East European ethnic origins.

In addition to their fight for NATO enlargement and increased foreign assistance, recently the Coalition lobbied for financial support for Romania to help clear the debris in the Danube which has crippled Romanian shipping. CORA is a member of the CEEC.

The "meeting" portion concluded with a presentation by Jonathan Rickert from the Department of State. Mr. Rickert spoke of foreign assistance for Romania. He had served as a US diplomat in Romania for over 7 years. Two years ago CORA presented Mr. Rickert with an award of appreciation for his outstanding service to the US government and his part in helping the Romanian and Romanian-American communities.

Some of the people who attended the CORA conference spoke briefly about their own organizations.

Georgeta Washington, President of the Union and League of Romanian-American Societies (the newest member of CORA) spoke about the history and purposes of her organization, of the importance of continuing the positive contributions of Romanian culture and of unifying the Romanian-American community.

Habitat For Humanity reported on its work in building homes in Romania and asked for partnership relationships with Romanian-American organizations.

Following dinner on Friday night, Ambassadors Geoană (Romania) and Rosapepe (US) addressed the guests. They were positive about the future in Romania and stressed the importance of a unified Romanian-American community for itself and for the people of Romania.

Saturday brought special guided tours of the White House and the US Capitol. After the tours, those attendees, concerned about the use of US assistance to pay for abortions in Romania, met with Senator Bob Smith (R-NH), a champion in the Senate opposed to this assistance and most pro-abortion issues.

According to the remarks made by the attendees during and after the conference, "CORA 2000" was a great success. Some of the quotes follow:

The meeting was great!... I was impressed, as usual, with the high quality people who were the attendees, the excellent presentations, particularly on the economic and political situation in Romania with a projection for a positive future. David Garst - Coon Rapids, IA

Enjoyable and informative... especially good to have the opportunity to have direct exchanges with the presenters. Helen Burz - Bingham Farms, MI

I felt motivated and re-energized by the Conference. I was impressed by the sincerity and motivation of the people who attended to unite as Romanian-Americans to preserve our heritage and culture. I hope the Union and League's joining CORA will be an example to other Romanian-American organizations throughout the US to unite so we can speak in one voice. Only at that time can we help ourselves as Romanian-Americans and help those left behind in our homeland who are still suffering. Georgeta Washington - Cleveland, OH

For me and my organization, this event was phenomenal. I leave for Romania shortly and cannot wait to tell my team members in Romania about the impact CORA can make on Romania's future and the possibilities for collaborating with others who have a heart for Romania. Diane Şerban - Indianapolis, IN

I adopt all of the wonderful things I heard others say about the meeting when I was there. Linking Romanian-Americans and Romanians to the US Congress and the White House is what CORA truly undertakes. Together, with other organizations, CORA can make a difference; from taking care of Romanian orphans to reclaiming the image of Romania, and from simply informing its members to pressing for the integration of Romania in all Western structures. Gabriela Marin Thornton - Coral Gables, FL

I attended the excellent 'CORA 2000' Conference. There were a variety of quality presentations and points of view. CORA is a wonderful bridge between the different cultures of Romania and America. Peter Lucaciu, MD - Chicago, IL.

In his inaugural address as OSCE rotating chairman, Foreign Minister Mircea Geoană told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 11 January that the organization will continue to focus on respect of individual rights, conflict prevention and conflict resolution, as well as on international cooperation and security, Romanian and international agencies reported. Geoană said Bucharest has handed over responsibility for the Transdniester conflict to Portugal in order to avoid the impression of partiality but the OSCE must continue insisting on finding a solution to that conflict based on respect for Moldova's territorial integrity and the OSCE 1999 Istanbul summit resolution on withdrawal of Russian troops from the region.

Geoană said another main focus of activity will be Chechnya, and proposed that Romanian ambassador to Kyiv Alexandru Cornea head a new mission to Grozny, calling on Russia to grant it all possible support. He said his first mission as OSCE chairman will take him next week to Belgrade, and the OSCE will help prepare elections in Kosova and build democratic institutions in Bosnia. The OSCE will also concentrate on the struggle against organized crime, ethnic hatred and discrimination against minorities. In 2001, he said, Romania will organize an OSCE conference on the situation of Sinti and Roma in Europe.

Foreign Minister Nicolae Cernomaz believes Moldova and Romania should not reopen the negotiations on the basic treaty initialed last year, but his Romanian counterpart Mircea Geoană insists on doing so, Infotag reported on 11 January, at the end of Cernomaz's visit to Bucharest. The agency cited Geoană as saying that negotiations at expert level should be aimed at ensuring that the treaty can be ratified by the two countries' parliaments without problems. Infotag also said that Cernomaz criticized the frequent official Romanian use of the term two Romanian states in reference to Moldova and Romania, warning that separatists in Tiraspol and Gagauz-Yeri are exploiting this for their own anti-Moldovan interests.

• The Central and East European Coalition
• The Romanian-American Task Force: The Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Campaign to Preserve US Global Leadership
• Romanian and Moldovan - American Chambers of Commerce
• "One America" President's Initiative
• Partner in Census 2000