Address by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands at the state dinner given by the President of Romania, Bucharest, 13 november 2001
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Mr President,
It gives me special pleasure to be able to pay this State visit to your country. Your predecessor in office visited the Netherlands on several occasions. I am very happy to be in your country in my turn and to be able to make the acquaintance of a large number of your compatriots.
Romania occupies a special position within Europe. It has ties both with Central Europe and with the Balkans, and it has long been involved in the turbulent history of this part of our continent. It belongs to both regions, but at the same time distinguishes itself from them in a number of ways.
The most striking difference is that in this part of Europe in your country alone a Romance language is spoken. This was the result of the ambitions of the Roman Emperor Trajan, who added this region to the Empire and was so proud of this conquest that he took the name Trajan Dacicus. Many who have never been to your country learn of the early history of Romania when they visit Trajan's Column in Rome.
Romania's history is also interwoven with that of other empires, such as the Byzantine and the Ottoman. Although your country is geographically part of Eastern Europe, it has always remained in touch with Western thinking. The humanist Olahus, who was of Romanian origin, maintained close contacts with Erasmus of Rotterdam.
In the nineteenth century, after Romania had become an independent state, relations grew even closer. In the political, economic and cultural sense, Romania was clearly oriented towards the West. Since then, West European culture has inspired many Romanian scholars, artists, writers and intellectuals. Conversely, philosophers and writers from your country have greatly enriched our culture.
In the recent past, the political and social tempests that have ravaged this part of Europe in particular, have afflicted your country too. The dark period in which totalitarian regimes of very different political leaning succeeded one another came to an end only a short time ago.
Your country is not the only one that suffered a period of repression and your people not the only one to have recently won back its freedom. In Romania, however, this transition took place in a very special way, namely in the form of a spontaneous and extremely courageous popular uprising that aroused admiration and sympathy throughout Europe, particularly in our country. This led to an exceptional number of contacts and relationships in all kinds of areas. Many very successful city links have been established. A notable example is the twinning arrangement between Rotterdam and Constanta, two ports which though situated far apart were connected a short time ago by a single waterway. This route is at present unfortunately blocked, as a result of the recent events in the former Yugoslavia. We hope that this waterway, a vital artery for your country as for others, will soon again be navigable.
In the conflict in Yugoslavia Romania made a resolute choice to side with the West. This was powerful proof of loyalty and a clear indication that you endorse the democratic values of the European Union.
The Netherlands supports your wish to accede to the EU and is assisting your efforts to accomplish the necessary reforms. In the past few years you have demonstrated your determination to achieve these aims. We appreciate this all the more because we realise that this process of adjustment often has painful consequences for large parts of the population and demands much courage and perseverance from all concerned.
Europe is a growing area of security, solidarity and stability. Stability is also promoted by the serious commitment your country has shown in holding the chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In our country there is great esteem for the policy of your Government, which in consultation with the states concerned in the region, focuses on the integration of minorities and sustainable cohabitation between the various population groups.
The young people who at present form part of your Government signify a break with the past. That past caused much suffering, which people would prefer to forget. However, as you yourself have observed, one cannot obliterate parts of a nation's history. One has to face up to the past and come to terms with it. This applies to your country just as it does to ours. The newly founded Institute for Recent History, which aims to conduct independent research in this field, could play an important role in this process. We therefore support this initiative wholeheartedly. It is an example of fruitful cooperation between our two countries.
That cooperation extends to numerous fields. Existing economic ties will become even closer when a number of obstacles to foreign investment have been removed. Cultural and educational exchanges already take place on a large scale.
Most striking, however, are the many personal ties that have come about since the great transformation of nineteen eighty-nine. Some three hundred Dutch non-governmental organisations maintain contacts with their Romanian counterparts. This illustrates our mutual solidarity and the great commitment felt by a wide range of Dutch people to developments in your country.
Mr President,
The links between our two countries were not always so comprehensive in the past. Romania and the Netherlands are just too remote from each other. But distances are becoming ever smaller and contacts between different peoples are becoming more and more frequent. Furthermore, your country has embarked on a route that is bringing it ever closer to Western Europe.
I should like to propose a toast to your health, Mr President, to that of Mrs Iliescu, and to a bright future for the Romanian people in the new Europe that we shall all hold in common.