Duane Butcher, reprezentantul Statelor Unite in Romania, a fost laudat de romanii-americani intr-o scrisoare publica pe data de 11 iulie, inainte ca acesta sa isi termine misiunea in Romania, pentru “tot ce [a] facut in intarirea relatiei dintre Romania si Statele Unite si pentru consolidarea statului de drept si democratiei in Romania”.
“Activitatea Dvs. in Romania a dovedit, inca odata, ca Statele Unite sunt un prieten adevarat al Romaniei si doresc numai bine pentru poporul roman”, a spus pr. Chris Terhes, presedintele Romanian Community Coalition, cea mai larga organizatie a romanilor din Statele Unite.
Duane Butcher a devenit Atasatul cu afaceri al Ambasadei SUA odata cu plecarea Ambasadorului american Mark Gitenstein din functie in 2012.
In aceasta pozitie, au spus romanii-americani, “nu numai ca ati indeplinit cu succes rolul unui ambasador, dar ati jucat un rol important in pastrarea democratiei si statului de drept in Romania si in ridicarea la un nou nivel a relatiei dintre Romania si Statele Unite”.
Romanii-americani l-au laudat pe Duane Butcher pentru reactia prompta din “martea neagra” cand Parlamentul Romaniei a dorit sa modifice codul penal si sa largeasca imunitatea parlamentara, facand aproape imposibila anchetarea politicienilor pentru coruptie. De asemenea, au apreciat interventia ambasadei in sustinerea acordata Directiei Nationale Anticoruptie in septembrie-octombrie 2013 in fata presiunilor din partea politicului.
Acestia au mai spus ca atunci cand Duane Butcher a laudat progresele in lupta anticoruptie sau a exprimat ingrijorari fata de intentia politicienilor de a opri aceste progrese, acesta a facut-o si in numele romanilor-americanilor si a familiilor lor din Romania.
“Unii dintre noi am venit in Statele Unite exilati de regimul communist, altii am venit pentru ca am fost fortati sa plecam de situatia economica din tara in cautarea unui viitor mai bun", a spus romanii-americani. "Indiferent cum si de ce am ajuns in Statele Unite, aici am invatat ce inseamna cu adevarat democratia. Cu totii suntem martori ca o societate poate oferi oportunitati nelimitate cetatenilor sai daca toti sunt egali in fata legii.”
“Dorim ca Romania sa devina o democratie mai puternica pentru a oferi oportunitati nelimitate cetatenilor romani, astfel incat acestia sa nu trebuiasca sa plece din tara pentru a-si cauta un viitor mai bun in alte parti”, au spus romanii-americani.
Acestia au apreciat ca implicarea lui Duane Butcher in “consolidarea statului de drept si democratiei in Romania a ajutat si a fost in beneficiul tuturor romanilor”.
Romanii-americani i-au multumit lui Duane Butcher si pentru recunoasterea pe care a aratat-o militarilor romani care lupta “umar la umar cu cei americani”.
“Suntem mandri cand auzim aici in Statele Unite militari americani ce lauda curajul soldatilor romani. Va multumim pentru recunoasterea publica pe care ati aratat-o de atatea ori pentru profesionalismul, dedicatia si sacrificiul militarilor romani”, au spus romanii-americani.
Romanii-americani si-au incheiat scrisoarea multumindu-i inca odata lui Duane Butcher pentru tot ce a facut in Romania si si-au exprimat deschiderea de a colabora cu Dean Thompson, noul atasat cu afaceri al Ambasadei SUA, "in intarirea relatiei dintre Romania si Statele Unite si in sustinerea statului de drept si democratiei in Romania".
Romanian Community Coalition, cunoscuta si sub numele de "Coalitia romanilor pentru combaterea coruptiei", este cea mai larga organizatie a romanilor din Statele Unite infiintata cu scopul de a oferi o voce comunitatii romanesti, a intari relatia dintre Romania si Statele Unite si de a sprijini lupta impotriva coruptiei din Romania.
Pentru referinta, postam mai jos continutul scrisorii in limba engleza.
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July 11, 2014
Irvine, California
The Honorable Duane Butcher
Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d`affaires ad interim
US Embassy to Romania
Re: Appreciation after a job well done
Dear Duane,
We would like to take this opportunity, before you leave your post from Romania, to thank you for your service and for everything you did to strengthen the relationship between Romania and United States, and for preserving and consolidating the rule of law and democracy in Romania.
The departure in 2012 of H.S. Mark Gitenstein, the former US Ambassador to Romania, left a huge void and high expectations. As CDA you were able not only to successfully do the job of an Ambassador, but you played a key role in preserving the democracy and rule of law in Romania and moving the strategic partnership between Romania and USA to the next level.
We remember your prompt reaction on “black Tuesday” to stop the Romanian Parliament to change the penal code and expand the parliamentarian immunity, which would have made it harder for authorities to charge the politicians for corruption. Also, your prompt intervention in September-October 2013 in support of key prosecutors helped preserve the independence of DNA from the political pressures.
Your voice of appreciation for the progress made in Romania in the fight against corruption, as well as your voice of concern when the politicians tried to slow down or stop that progress, was also our voice, of the Romanian-Americans, who spoke for our family members back home.
Some of us came to Unites States exiled by the communist regime, others were forced to leave the country for economic reasons in pursue of a better future. Regardless of the reason why and how we got here, to United States, this is where we learned what democracy really is. We are all a living testimony that a society can provide endless opportunities for its people if everybody is equal before the law.
We want Romania to become a stronger democracy in order to provide endless opportunities for the Romanian people so they won’t have to leave the country in order to find a better life somewhere else.
Your dedication in help preserving and consolidating the rule of law and democracy in Romania helped and benefited all the Romanian people.
We also take this opportunity to thank you for the support and appreciation that you showed to the Romanian soldiers fighting side by side with the American troops.
We feel very proud when we hear here, in US, American troops praising the courage of the Romanian soldiers. Thank you for publicly acknowledging for so many times the professionalism, dedication and sacrifice of the Romanian troops.
Your activity in Romania proved, one more time, that United States is a true friend of Romania and cares for the best interest of the Romanian people.
Thank you again for your service and we are looking forward working with Dean Thompson, the next Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'affaires ad interim, to strengthen the relationship between Romania and United States and solidify the rule of law and democracy in Romania.
With deep respect and appreciation,
Father Chris Terhes, President
CC: US State Department, Romanian media
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