US Ambassador in Romania, Mark Gitenstein “We’ve made no decision as for the location of the missile shield.“ (video)

US Ambassador in Romania, Mark Gitenstein: "We've made no decision as for the location of the missile shield."

In the second part of the interview U.S. Ambassador Mark Gitenstein gave us, he clarified the position related to the missile shield, saying it hasn't got into detailed discussions yet in this regard. His Excellency told us about his Romanian origins and the importance of the mission he has to fulfill here: "I am very proud of the fact that I am Romanian-American"
Mark Gitenstein also spoke at the opening event which he attended, the exhibition "Water is Life", indicating its expectation regarding establishment of working relationships between the Romanian and the American companies participating at the exhibition last week.

Is a cooling of the Romanian-Russian relationship likely to happen because of the US intention to place the missile shield somewhere in Dobrogea region?

I see absolutely no reason for that, because those missiles are not, in any way, a threat to Russia. And the Russians know that. Let's not to say it won't be remarks back and forth on both sides from some segments of the Russian establishment, especially the military establishment. But I've seen no evidence and neither has my government. And there has been discution at the highest level between our governments about these issues and I think that the fact the Start Treaty was signed is very good evidence that we are moving forward on this issues. So far, there is no decision made about where the missiles will be located.

Why did US Embassy choose Constanta for the Water Exhibition?
Because the Black Sea is one of the greatest water resources for Romanians, or the proper places as is the Danube, of course in the proximity, and Constanta is a beautiful city and a great place for an exhibition.

The exhibitors are both Romanian and American companies. Has been established any collaboration between them, until now?

It's a little early to say. We have twelve US companies there and my discussions with them and with some of your water companies were very encouraging, but it's only been a day. Like I said in my speech at the exhibition, the key is that the water companies getting access to European structural funds so they have the resources to buy American technologies. And some water companies are better than others. Your water company here, the one in Braila, and the one in Cluj are very good in getting structural funds. But others are not. And they all may be good.

Can you speak about more expanded connections between the United States and the city of Constanta?

The US government, as you know, has a long history of relationships at the MK (Mihail Kogalniceanu) base and US has also rotating the military personal and trainers through that base, so we spend a lot of time down this area. I think Constanta is one of the largest ports on the Black Sea. That and the fact that the Delta is so near here are all important economic factors that we care about. The best that we care about is the success of the Romanian economy.

Can I go back to the missile defense answer? I want to be sure that it say right at the beginning that we've made no decision as for the location of these missiles. Neither have the Romanians. I don't know if there is going to be here or where is going to be. We haven't got into detailed discussions yet.

It is known that you are the first ambassador with Romanian origins. How important are the roots for the mission you have to fulfill here?

I think it's important. It's important to me and it's important for the Romanians. I found that there is a lot of enthusiasm expressed by the Romanians when they find out that I am with Romanian stock. But it also means that I approach every issue with my head and with my heart

I am very proud of the fact that I am Romanian-American.

Have you been so far in Braila?

My great grandfather used to say he was from a town in Romania called Braova. There is no such town. And I did some research. Braila was once called Braova, so I assumed he was from Braila. His name was Bralower and some times they were called Bralver. But recently I've got a 300-page genealogy of my family. It says that actually my great grandfather emigrated from Botosani. And my great-great grandmother, who also came to United States, lived in Botosani and moved to United States. I would guess that they probably lived in Braila before they moved in Botosani. Because a lot of Jews emigrated into Romania after Danube, started in Braila and then moved up in northeastern Romania. I haven't been to Braila yet. I intend to go there and to Botosani.

Do you know anything about the house your relatives used to live?

I know nothing. I'd love to, but I don't. It's more likely to find an address, a place a neighborhood in Botosani than in Braila. A cousin of mine has done all this research.

Do you have relatives here?

I have relatives in Chisinau, on the Gitenstein side of family. I was there about six weeks - two months ago and met one of my distant cousins. My grandfather whom I knew emigrated in the United States from Chisinau in 1880, when he was 12 years old. He was always saying he was from Russia, not from Romania, because at that moment it was part of Russia.