On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 a senseless act of terrorism took the lives of thousands of innocent people, injured thousands of others and altered forever, the lives - and way of life - for millions more, both in America and abroad.

For over 200 years America has been a secure home for individuals seeking freedom, equality and justice; and it has sustained hope for those living elsewhere in poverty and under oppression. The American character, molded by its values and freedoms, has been repeatedly exemplified by the many heroic acts of its disaster workers and the generosity and kindness shown by its citizens in so tragic an aftermath.

We can all help in this recovery effort. In whatever manner we choose to aid our fellow Americans, we must be mindful, particularly when emotions run high, of the values that have made this nation great. And, we must strive to live by them.

The Congress of Romanian Americans (CORA) has been unrelenting in its appeal over the years for the unity of all people of the world who share common values, especially those affecting individual freedom and worth. The unity of peoples and nations who share this will promulgate it in others. Strong alliances of these nations, such as NATO, will preserve and protect these values.

On behalf of its members, CORA offers its deepest sympathy to the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and will keep in their prayers, the many injured and the massive numbers of people with unseen scars. We express our gratitude to all who have reacted with selfless energy in the search and recovery effort, by donating blood, aiding in re-uniting family members, collecting and delivering food and clothing for those evacuated from, or unable to reach home, and to those whose prayerful vigils have provide emotional support.

We have been asked to announce that on Friday night (September 14) there will be a massive candlelight vigil. At 7:00 pm, step out of your door, your car, your establishment and light a candle. We will show the world that Americans are strong and united together against terrorists. Please pass this to everyone on your e-mail list. We need to reach everyone across the United States quickly.

Moldova has been held hostage for too long to the ongoing dispute with the breakaway Transdniester region, the Foreign Minister of Moldova told an RFE/RL audience last week. He said that Russia must live up to its commitment to withdraw troops and munitions from the area.

Nicolae Chernomaz, the most senior Moldovan official to visit Washington since the Moldovan Communist Party won national elections in February 2001, met with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and told him that Moldova would continue economic reforms, democratization, and respect its international commitments. Chernomaz added that the Russian government must also live up to its commitment to withdraw all troops from Transdniestria by the end of 2002, made at the Istanbul summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 1999.

Chernomaz said that Secretary Powell had pledged to personally address problems in Transdniestria, which poses both an ecological threat for Europe and is a conduit for drug and human trafficking. The secretary will urge the European Union to join with the U.S. in resolving this long smoldering issue.

Another major issue facing Moldova, the foreign minister said, is the country's foreign debt, which has ballooned over the last decade to unmanageable proportions. Chernomaz said that if the debt is not restructured, Moldova will probably default next year because the scheduled payments would amount to 70 percent of Moldova's projected budget in 2002.

The President of the United States of America intends to nominate Michael E. Guest to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the US to Romania.

As a career member of the senior foreign service, he is presently the principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs. From 1996 to 1999 he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Prague. Guest has held several posts in Washington, DC including as Deputy Executive Secretary of the Department of State and Political-military Officer in the Office of European Security and Political Affairs and has completed overseas assignments in Paris, Moscow, and Hong Kong. He is a graduate of Furman University and received his Masters Degree from the University of Virginia.

The Congress Of Romanian Americans has since last year supported the appointment of a career diplomat to the position of US Ambassador to Romania for reasons that are clearly mentioned on our website.

We are nevertheless very proud that members of our Romanian American community were under serious consideration by the White House for the post. Congratulations to you!

The European Parliament in Brussels voted on 1 March in favor of abolishing visa requirements for Romanians, Romanian media reported. The deputies amended a Council of Ministers report that proposed the elimination of visas for Bulgarians, but put several conditions for eventually eliminating visa requirements for Romanians. These conditions included measures against illegal immigration from Romania and the repatriation of illegal Romanian residents in EU member countries. The EU's Council of Interior Ministers is to adopt an official visa regulation at its 15-16 March meeting. Should the ministers adopt the original version of the report, Romania would be the only candidate country whose citizens still require a visa for traveling to EU member countries.

On Wednesday, February 21, 2001 CORA, along with the other 17 organizations of the Central and East European Coalition, was invited to the White house offices in Washington, DC to meet with key administrative officials in charge of US security policy to that part of the world.

Present at the meeting from the National Security Council were:
Ambassador Daniel Fried, former US Ambassador to Poland, currently President George W. Bush's new Special Assistant for European and Eurasian Affairs (all of Western and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union)
Hope Harrison, Director for Caucasus and Central Asia
Peter Clement, Director for Russian Affairs
Cameron Munter, Director for Central Europe
J. D. Estes, Office of Public Liaison, the White House

Attending from the US Department of State were:
Jonathan Rickert, SEED Office (Support for East European Democracies)
Ambassador William Taylor, US Assistance Programs to New Independent States
Donald M. Sheehan, Country Officer for Romania

CORA was represented by its President, Armand A. Scala. Other members of the Central and East European Coalition, present at the meeting, included Armenian, Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, Georgian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian national organizations representing over 20 million Americans with origins from that part of the world.

The meeting took place in a mutually open and frank atmosphere, in the ornate Indian Treaty Room of the Old Executive Office Building. Tops discussed included:

• Security interests of the United States in Eastern Europe and in NATO
• US foreign policy toward Russia
• NATO Enlargement
• US foreign assistance to the region
• US International Broadcasting: VOA, RFE/RL

Ambassador Fried assured the Coalition that the National Security Council in the new Bush Administration will be working closer with the State Department. At this time, as US foreign policies are being formulated, it is important that they consult with those Americans who have experience and interest in their areas of concern. Those present were assured that they will be heard.

On behalf of the CEEC and CORA, Armand Scala made the opening remarks. He touched on the 9 year history of the CEEC and its solid relationship with the NSC and with the three previous administrations in the White House.

On the issue of NATO, it was stated that Coalition all agreed that the US, as the only superpower left, should continue to play a leading role in world security and in NATO and that NATO is, and will be, necessary in the years to come, providing an umbrella of security for those fragile democracies in Central and Eastern Europe, which are struggling through their economic and political transitions to democracy. In the words of the Polish representative in the CEEC, "the Coalition was united in supporting the first three candidates, and we have committed ourselves and our organizations and memberships to supporting all aspiring candidates who are qualified to join NATO. We hope that they will be extended invitations to membership at the next NATO summit in 2002, but we need the leadership of the US Administration within NATO to make it happen".

With regard to foreign assistance, Mr. Scala stated that, in spite of our leadership in the world, the US spends of less than 1% of its budget to cover both its embassies and foreign aid. It is not sufficient, he said, and asked that President Bush make the American people aware of this inadequacy and gain their support for greater foreign aid.

In closing, Ambassador Fried encouraged further dialogue. Regular and frequent meetings will follow.

We are very pleased stated Mr. Edward Moskal, President of the Polish American Congress, that Ambassador Fried has been placed in this key position at the NSC. He always understood and supported the concerns of Polonia on the security issues of Poland, and we know we can count on him to contribute his wisdom and experience to the formulation of broader US foreign policy.

A farewell reception was held in Washington, DC on January 30 for friends of the now Foreign minister of Romania and Mrs. Geoană.

CORA's President, Armand Scala in his remarks congratulated the Geoanăs on the success of their tour of duty in the United States. He told of how, as Ambassador from Romania to the US, Mircea Geoană substantially elevated the regard Americans have for Romania. He said your presence in the US has generated pride in Romanian Americans and that he has served as a great catalyst in bringing Romanian Americans together.

Following Mr. Scala's remarks, Archbishop Nathaniel Popp, CORA's Chairman, presented a very special gift to Mircea and Mihaela Geoană. The gift was a custom made "shadow box" frame containing six beautiful commemorative ornaments issued each year by the White House - one for each year the Geoanăs celebrated Christmas in the US capital and, in the center, the beautiful bicentennial ornament.

The Ambassador described his feelings about leaving as half sad and half glad. He spoke of his sadness in leaving his friends in the US, but was happy to have the opportunity to help his country in his new capacity as Foreign Minister.

Senator Mary Landrien (D-Louisana), also present at the reception, made very complimentary remarks.

Members of the CORA Board of Directors who attended the reception included His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel Popp, Armand A. Scala, Georgetta Washington, Cornell Mohoreanu, Steven Bonică, the Very Rev. Richard Grabowski, Dr. Peter Nicholson, John Sânteiu and John Şerban.

The 2000-2001 issue of Romanian American Yellow Pages is now available. There is no more comprehensive single source of information on Romania, Moldova, and the Romanian-American community in one place then in these yellow pages.

The Romanian-American Yellow Pages are unlike anything you would expect. The cost of 4.00 US dollars plus shipping and handling does not represent its real value. In order to gather the information available in this book you would have to spent ten times that amount of money. You may order this book by going to the website of the Center Focus Publishing Association at www.centerfocus.org and filling out the order form.