The Issue of Restarting Adoptions, on the US Ambassador's Agenda

The issue of restarting adoptions, on the US Ambassador's agenda
by Mihai Constantin, Washington D.C.

Condoleezza Rice was present when Nicholas Taubman took his oath, a sign of the important influence the new US Ambassador at Bucharest has in Bush's party.

With his hand on the Bible, Nicholas Taubman swore to observe the US Constitution and defend his country's interests. Taubman will arrive in Romania on December 1st after he will cross the Atlantic on board of his private plane, which he is prepared to keep at his disposal inside a hangar at the "Henri Coanda" Airport.

The oath ceremony was presided by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who until now has never found the time to participate in such events, which were left in the care of her deputies. A sign that Taubman, a generous sponsor of the republicans with over 350,000 dollars, is an extremely respected figure in Washington.

Pro-adoptions resolution

After presenting his credentials and being welcomed by President Traian Basescu during a ceremony scheduled to take place on December 5, Taubman will have the first mission of greatest importance: Condoleezza Rice's visit in Romania, during which an agreement will be signed establishing future US military bases in Romania, in the Black Sea area, and a new stage in bilateral relations.

The new ambassador's agenda also includes the delicate issue of international adoptions, which will be brought to focus by a US Congress resolution to be adopted by the end of the year. The resolution asks Romania to change the laws in this field in order to make the adoption process more permissive and - as a premiere - demands the European Union to refrain from stopping the Romanian government in its efforts to find adoptive families for the abandoned children.

The American investments: 6%

Romania is gaining a huge potential for its business environment. Romania and the USA have a current yearly trade of approximately two billion dollars, and the American direct investments in our country are 6% of the total foreign investments since 1990. It is very probable that from now on theAmerican capital will pay more attention to recommendations made by a successful businessman such as Nicholas Taubman. Taubman was recently awarded the "Entrepreneur of the Year 2005 in the State of Virginia" title by Forbes magazine, while the business his father started in 1932 was named the "Best-Managed Company in America in the retail sector", with sales of $3.77 billion last year.

(Mihai Constantin, Washington, DC. )