US President GW Bush praises Romanian Economy during recent visit

The US President has congratulated the Romanian Government for the way it organized the NATO Summit and the progress Romania achieved since his last visit to Romania.

"I told the Prime Minister, one reason why capital comes to a country is because people feel comfortable about taking risk. I also congratulated him on these big investments that are coming in; it's a good sign. The people of Romania ought to be -- appreciate the fact that the conditions are such that people are willing to invest. And by the way, investment creates jobs, which is also -- will have a direct benefit for the people of Romania.

I also congratulate the Prime Minister on having a 16 percent flat tax. I'm a little envious. I would like to have been able to achieve the same objective for our tax code, and it was a smart thing to get done, because I think those kinds of policies will enable the Romanian folks to have a bright future", President Bush explained.

PRIME MINISTER POPESCU-TARICEANU described the meeting with President Bush as very pleasant and useful. " We discussed both bilateral issues between Romania and the United States. I expressed to President Bush our gratitude for having had the trust to have Romania organize this important NATO summit in Bucharest".

"The organization of the NATO summit in Bucharest was very symbolic. It is part of a much larger vision and concept, this vision being that to strengthen and to unify Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain. And the idea was to foster, to strengthen the Alliance in the eastern and south-eastern flank, from the Baltic Sea all the way to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. That is how we have to interpret the membership of Albania and Croatia to NATO, the future membership of Macedonia, and eventual Georgia and Ukraine membership, as well.

"Overall, the trip here has been great. This is the second time I've come. I didn't have quite the dramatic rainbow scene this time as I did the first time I came, but clearly there's been a lot of progress. The city looks different to me. The spirit is still strong. Freedom has taken hold, and I congratulate you, the government, and all involved for the progress you've made", concluded President Bush.