The letter of 7 former US ambassadors to Romanians: « Putin or America »
A new scarecrow for those who vote for George Simion? Seven former US ambassadors in Romania have transmitted, « as American citizens », a common letter, in the context of the presidential elections of May 18. « If Romania will choose a pro-Putin president, the defense and economic support of the United States for ordinary Romanians, may be affected drastically, they say.
We play below the letter:
To our Romanian friends,
Subsignates-former ambassadors of the United States in Romania, Republicans and Democrats, from administration of the Celleton to the Trump Administration, we address this message as official representatives of the US government, nor in any other professional quality, but as American citizens who have dedicated years of their lives and reputation to help Romanians.
We nourish a deep affection for Romania and an unwavering commitment to a strong transatlantic alliance between Europe and the United States, Romania being a bastion of critical importance for the security and freedom of both countries.
Thus we answer the questions that some of us received from Romanians, because we share the feeling expressed by the Zuckerman ambassador in his letter of May 8 (annexed), regarding the stakes of the presidential elections and his opinion that only the candidate Nicușor Dan appears the interests of the Romanian-American alliance.
During our mandates, the American presidents who called us clearly proved that they were unequivocally engaged in a strong transatlantic alliance with Romania, as a support pillar for NATO and the European Union, for the Security of America and Romania. We were direct witnesses to the successful liberation of the Romanians under the dictatorship imposed by Russia, their path to freedom and integration with the rest of Europe through the European Union and the Alliance with the United States through NATO.
Today all this is in danger. Under a little, Russia is again on the offensive. First of all, through the invasion of Ukraine. Will Romania be its next target, as it was in Stalin’s time?
Two of us have Romanian origins. We understand the struggles that many Romanian citizens face. But, as US citizens and former US ambassadors in Romania, we also understand how most Americans perceive Vladimir Putin and its allies. They represent fatal threats to security, freedom and prosperity in Romania, Europe and America.
If Romania chooses a pro-Putin president, the defense and economic support of the United States for ordinary Romanians, may be affected drastically.
Romanians are facing an obvious historical choice: Russia’s domination or their own future, NATO ally. Putin or America.
As friends of the Romanians, from Maramureș to Constanța and from Timișoara to Iași – with each county and common between them – we hope from the heart that our Romanian friends will reaffirm the transatlantic values and that they will reject any alliance perceived with Putin’s interests.
We cannot vote in the presidential elections in Romania. But you can.
God bless Romania!
Alfred Moses (former ambassador) 1994-1997
James Rosapepe (former ambassador) 1998-2001
Michael Guest (former ambassador) 2001-2004
Nicholas Taubman (former ambassador) 2005-2009
Mark Gitenstein (former ambassador) 2009 -2012
Hans G. Klemm (former ambassador) 2015 -2019
Adrian Zuckerman (former ambassador) 2019 – 2021
