Many people argue that Romania, alongside other countries in its region, has changed, since 1989, its political, economical, social organization to an insignificant extent only. Everything new is just a façade for the same old practices; and the legacy of the Communist period could not allow the implementation of the new liberal-democratic models. Nevertheless, by taking a look at Romanian websites, analyzing more deeply today’s Romanian realities or speaking to representatives of the new political elite, you may gain a different understanding of the place and evolution of the country in its regional geopolitical system (as opposed to the negative image promoted by the Romanian newspapers).
But not only the general transformation of this individual country seems to have been – during the last few years, at least – rather positive than negative. The regional reform has been carried out according to similar patterns. The concrete results of this process have been expressed in the recent decision of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to invite as many as seven new Eastern European countries to join the Alliance and the similar decision of the European Union.
Moreover, the political will for regional collaboration takes many different forms. An example from Ottawa is highly relevant: a major international event whose aim is to re-define the Canadian foreign policy towards Southeastern Europe has been conceived and will be organized (January 23-24) by the countries in that part of Europe themselves. Romania is one of the organizers, along with Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FR Yugoslavia, FYR Macedonia, Albania, Greece and Turkey, in conjunction with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Canadian Forum on Southeastern Europe (CFSEE)Â.
This is the first time such an initiative has been undertaken anywhere. The incentive for Romania and its regional neighbors to work together is to present a new, forward-looking perspective on Southeastern Europe to the West and, in doing so, help improve the negative impressions the Westerners have of Eastern Europe. It is also a sign of a qualitatively new stage in the evolution of countries like Romania towards integration into the Euro-Atlantic family.
But not only the general transformation of this individual country seems to have been – during the last few years, at least – rather positive than negative. The regional reform has been carried out according to similar patterns. The concrete results of this process have been expressed in the recent decision of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to invite as many as seven new Eastern European countries to join the Alliance and the similar decision of the European Union.
Moreover, the political will for regional collaboration takes many different forms. An example from Ottawa is highly relevant: a major international event whose aim is to re-define the Canadian foreign policy towards Southeastern Europe has been conceived and will be organized (January 23-24) by the countries in that part of Europe themselves. Romania is one of the organizers, along with Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FR Yugoslavia, FYR Macedonia, Albania, Greece and Turkey, in conjunction with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the Canadian Forum on Southeastern Europe (CFSEE)Â.
This is the first time such an initiative has been undertaken anywhere. The incentive for Romania and its regional neighbors to work together is to present a new, forward-looking perspective on Southeastern Europe to the West and, in doing so, help improve the negative impressions the Westerners have of Eastern Europe. It is also a sign of a qualitatively new stage in the evolution of countries like Romania towards integration into the Euro-Atlantic family.
 http://www.carleton.ca/cfsee/
Dragos C. Popa
