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23. 10. 09. - 16:00

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23. 10. 09. - 16:00

Geoana calls for more CEE involvement in world affairs

Romanian Times

Romanian Social Democratic leader Mircea Geoana has warned Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) should not take American involvement in the region for granted.

He issued the warning in an opinion article in the online edition of the New York Times, adding that CEE should participate in global debate.

"If we in Central and Eastern Europe want to be taken seriously, we must raise our game. We must bring relevant contributions to global debates and eliminate excuses for not being credible partners," writes Geoana, a former ambassador to the U.S. and a former foreign minister.

"Concretely, on issues like missile defence, we must not become distracted by the size of the American footprint in Central and Eastern Europe when what matters is the level of protection provided by new technology," he adds in his article entitled "Ticking the Wrong Boxes".

Former Communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe have recorded various degrees of progress but have contributed to a perception that they are less than reliable partners for discussions and that they are incapable of consistent contributions to the most pressing debates in international affairs.

"This must change," writes Geoana, who is running for president of Romania at the end of November.

Central and Eastern Europe, he writes, "must combine what it already has with credible and sustained efforts to achieve what it needs: a seat at the tables where important decisions are made, a credible voice in those discussions, a broader and deeper relationship with the United States, Western Europe and the rest of the world."

The Romanian Social Democrat leader also writes that he thinks it is fair to say that the Obama administration's shift in missile-defence policy created a "delicate" moment for Central and Eastern Europe but notes an impasse need not be a crisis and says it would be far better to see it as an opportunity.

"This relationship does not need a reset button. It does, however, deserve an upgrade," Geoana writes in conclusion.

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