Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume X, Eastern Europe

77. Telegram From the Embassy in Romania to the Department of State¹

5149.

Bucharest, July 8, 1981, 1520Z

SUBJECT

• Ambassador’s Farewell Call on President Ceausescu, July 8, 1981.

1. C—Entire text

2. President Ceausescu received me this morning for my 30 minute farewell call at his Black Sea villa in Neptun. He was in a relaxed but pensive mood and spoke positively of the present state and future prospects for our bi-lateral relations. The only other person present was an interpreter.

3. After I expressed my pleasure in having served in Bucharest and acknowledged that I have been privileged to represent my country for nearly four years in Romania, President Ceausescu said his country’s relationship with the United States was one of Romania’s important foreign associations, one which he hoped would develop further. During my period of service here our bi-lateral relationship had developed significantly. This was particularly true in trade and commerce, but our dialogue on bi-lateral problems and on international issues had also grown in breadth and quality. Personally, he regretted my departure but he knew that change is the nature of a diplomat’s life and this fact must be accepted. He appreciated my personal contribution to solving some of our difficult bi-lateral problems. While we had not solved all of them, we have established a dialogue for working towards their solution.

4. Ceausescu said Romania, not being a world power, would continue to work for detente, peaceful solutions of international conflicts, and for the protection of the national independence of all nations. This was a firm course for Romania, a difficult one but one certainly worthy of the Romanian Government and people’s effort. As I had travelled widely in Romania and seen both its strengths and weaknesses, its good and bad points, there was no need for him to comment on the internal situation. There remained much to be done and the government must assess how best, with its limited resources, to improve conditions, but Romania would do its best for its people despite the stringencies of world economic problems and pressures.

5. I thanked President Ceausescu for his comments on my mission. In the perspective of 44 months in Bucharest I was pleased that a very good dialogue had already commenced between his government and the administration of President Reagan. The exchange of messages between the two Chiefs of State and the respective visits to Romania and [garble] United States of Secretary of Commerce Baldrige and Foreign Minister Andrei had given new impetus to our cooperation and our dialogue. The United States wished to continue this exchange in the spirit of candor and confidentiality and we hoped for more high-level discussions and in some detail in the future. Romania’s insights on many of the world’s critical problems were appreciated in Washington and we welcomed the opportunity to make certain our positions, concerns and goals were clearly understood.

6. Our economic and commercial cooperation while impressive has not reached its full potential, I said. The Romanian President’s views on this subject were well known to me but I believed that, beyond the considerations of import licenses and [garble] annual renewal, [garble] was much Romania could do to improve its performance and serve our mutual commercial interests. In dealing with other bi-lateral problems, both countries benefitted from a continuing dialogue and I hoped we could speed the resolution of the outstanding humanitarian matters.

7. President Ceausescu said he shared my view that an important new dialogue had begun between Romania and the United States under the Reagan administration. He looked forward to a continuation of the dialogue. He also agreed that Romania, like most countries, did have its unresolved problems and he understood the need to work with the United States in dealing with its concerns.

8. I commented that during my travels in Romania, I had come to appreciate its rich cultural and intellectual heritage which had not yet been fully interpreted in the United States. In the context of our mutual commitment to cultural exchange, I hoped that Romanian artists, scholars and other intellectuals might travel to my country to contribute to our understanding of Romania. Ceausescu nodded affirmatively.

9. As our meeting drew near its close, President Ceausescu said he understood I was leaving Romania for important new responsibilities in Washington. I said in fact I was departing on July 11 to be able to commence work on July 14 as a member of a Department of State promotion board, for four to six weeks assignment. My more permanent new assignment, which could be overseas or in Washington, was yet to be determined. I would leave Romania with regret but with satisfaction for having served my country in Bucharest in such an important period in Romania’s development and in the growth of our bi-lateral relations. I particularly appreciated the access to Romania’s leadership which I enjoyed. In leaving, I offered my best wishes to President Ceausescu and through him to the people of Romania in their efforts to develop a better life for all Romanians and to contribute to peace and international understanding. I wished them continued strength in defending and strengthening their national independence. President Ceausescu offered his best wishes for success in my future undertakings. He hoped I would continue to work wherever I could for Romanian-American cooperation. He said I would be welcome to return to Romania in an official or in a private capacity and he would be pleased to receive me at that time.

10. Finally, President Ceausescu pledged to do all that he could to strengthen and encourage the growth of good U.S.-Romanian relations.

Aggrey

1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Europe and Soviet Union, Romania (5/29/1981–07/29/1981). Confidential; Immediate.