William R. Richardson: “today we have a change in a bipartisan fashion to do something together on foreign policy. We should grant MFN to…”

“today we have a change in a bipartisan fashion to do something together on foreign policy. We should grant MFN to Romania. What we are doing is just extending parity. This is no special treatment. We did it under Ceausescu, the dictator. We should do it now under a burgeoning democracy. Romania is a burgeoning democracy. It has made progress since the revolution of 1989 on human rights, the rule of law and a free market. Romania has been a loyal ally in recent foreign policy initiatives including sending troops to Bosnia, peacekeeping in Angola, large contingent in the U.S. training under the IMET program and an impressive record of support in the United Nations. Two out of our last three Ambassadors on a bipartisan basis have supported MFN to Romania. Mr. Speaker, Romanians are looking to the United States a the primary source of business opportunities to foster the development of their economy. They have met the legal criteria for MFN, free immigration of its citizens. Mr. Speaker, let us do something in a responsible bipartisan fashion.”