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From: Richard Cummings <100662.3357@CompuServe.COM> This might be of interest to those studying the effects of international broadcasting on the end of the Cold War, comments from Romania's President during his visit to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague: Regards Richard Cummings 100662.3357@compuserve.com ------------ (Prague, Czech Republic) - Romanian President Emil Constantinescu today reaffirmed his country's desire to join NATO in a speech and news conference before some 150 journalists and members of the Prague diplomatic community at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Prague broadcast center. The President described RFE/RL as "Washington's most important investment during the Cold War" and said the station continues to play an important part in democratic change in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Constantinescu said 90 percent of Romanians favor joining NATO, and that his country now meets all conditions for membership except one: The economic capacity to support modernization of its military. Reiterating his commitment to sweeping economic change, the President said Romania now has its "back to the wall," with no alternative but to proceed with privatization and broad legal reforms essential to a market economy. The most populous Balkan state, with a population of 23 million, Romania now has the "political will" and a "common attitude and belief" that reform is unavoidable, despite high social costs, he said. Constantinescu took office last November in elections that marked a popular rejection of socialist-oriented policies in post-communist Romania. He and senior government officials were in Prague on a state visit to the Czech Republic. Constantinescu said he felt a "special emotion to be at the headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty." "I have always considered that this radio station is still needed after the fall of communism, because the experience now underway, during the transition to a market economy, is unique in the history of humanity," the President said, adding that RFE/RL is helping reforming countries share experience among themselves. "RFE/RL, with its (broadcast) services representing all the different states, will play an essential role in this fascinating process of history which we are living through together." "I don't know whether Americans themselves realize it now, seven years later, but it is so, and we understand it well: When the Iron Curtain fell, the Information Curtain did not fall as well. So that now, still, in the United States and many parts of the world, little is known about what is happening in the former communist states. One sees dim images of things far away." "The process of communism's final defeat has not yet been completed. More than that, there is a psychological resistance against starting the process. And those who do not understand this risk repeating history," the President said. "A communist country could not exist but by lies and lack of information. Communism could be torn apart, not by power of arms, but by power of words and belief, genuine belief. That is why Radio Free Europe has been much more important than the armies, the missiles, the most sophisticated equipment. The 'missiles' that destroyed communism were launched from Radio Free Europe, and this was Washington's most important investment during the Cold War." "Rarely," President Constantinescu said, paraphrasing Winston Churchill, "have so many people owed so much to so few." "Allow me to tell you from my heart, in the name of all Romanian people who fought and died for democracy, freedom and justice, thank you. Together we have won a battle for a better society." RFE/RL is a private, non-profit, public-service broadcaster funded by the federal government. It broadcasts 700 hours of news, current affairs, analysis and discussion programs weekly in 24 languages of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The full text and a RealAudio English translation of President Constantinescu's remarks and news conference will be available on RFE/RL's web site at http://www.rferl.org. -------------------------------------------------------- --Public reply to list: h-diplo@msu.edu --Private reply to sender: See e-mail address under "From" at top of message --To unsubscribe send e-mail to: listserv@msu.edu with UNSUB H-DIPLO as the only text in the body of your message --To temporarily suspend your account: send e-mail to listserv@msu.edu with SET H-DIPLO NOMAIL as the only text in the body of your message. To reactivate your account, send e-mail to listserv@msu.edu with SET H-DIPLO MAIL as the only text in the body of your message --Personal help from list moderators: hdiplo@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu --Visit the H-Diplo web page at: http://h-net2.msu.edu/~diplo/
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