110. Letter From Romanian President Ceausescu to President Reagan1
In the last 15 years Romanian-American relations have developed and have greatly expanded, especially in recent times.
In the spirit of the principles inscribed in the Joint Statement signed with President Nixon in December 19732 and in the other Romanian-American documents signed at the highest level in 1975 and 1978 and of the Romanian-American Agreement on Trade Relations,3 Romania [Page 307] and the U.S.A. will work for the continued development of Romanian-American relations in the interest of the two peoples and of peace and international cooperation.
Relations between Romania and the U.S.A. are based on equality of rights, respect for the principles of independence and national sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.
In the framework of its general policy Romania will continue to solve humanitarian problems on the basis of reciprocal trust and good will. Romania is completely in agreement with the understanding expressed in your letter that, with a view to continuing and stimulating economic relations and cooperation in production between the two countries, Romania will not require those granted permission to go abroad permanently to reimburse the state for the expenses of their education, as stipulated in Decree 402.
At the same time, although Romania will not create economic or procedural obstacles to permanent departures, it would like to emphasize that it does not encourage the permanent departure of Romanian citizens from their homeland, since that creates many social and humanitarian problems.
Motivated by the joint desire to develop even stronger bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation between the two States, the Romanian Government agrees that both parties will encourage the expansion of trade relations and that, within this framework, the United States and Romania will encourage—in accordance with their laws and regulations—the development of cooperation in production, expansion of imports and exports and the development of Romanian-American economic cooperation in general.
In general, Romania will endeavor to give a renewed stimulus to Romanian-American economic relations and notes that the U.S.A. will do likewise.
Romania is prepared to discuss continuation of economic cooperation with the United States in the context of the next meeting of the Joint Economic Commission, which will be held in the fall of 1983.
Very sincerely yours,
- Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, Romania: President Ceausescu (8400229–8406115). No classification marking. Printed from a translation prepared in the Division of Language Services, Department of State.↩
- Nixon and Ceausescu signed the Joint Statement of Principles and a Joint Statement on Economic, Industrial, and Technological Cooperation in Washington on December 5, 1973. For the texts, see Public Papers: Nixon, 1973, pp. 997–1003.↩
- TIAS 8159.↩