Speech by President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, at the reception organised on the occasion the National Day of Romania

Speech by President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, at the reception organised on the occasion the National Day of Romania

14:10 | 01 december 2023
President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, on Friday, 1 December 2023, at Cotroceni Palace, delivered a speech at the reception organised on the occasion of the National Day of Romania.

“Good day!

Happy anniversary to all of you and to all Romanians!

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Romanians,

On December 1st, we celebrate the day that brings us together, Romanians, wherever we are, reconnecting us to the spirit of our national unity.

We celebrate it every year, each time with the emotion of being part of a community where we feel at home, vibrating as we listen to the anthem and wave the flag at events across the country on this day. It is a joy to share the same symbols and the same national identity with others.

In such moments, we recall the culture and traditions that define us, especially the significant crossroads in our history when only through solidarity and unity could we overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.

The achievement of Greater Romania itself was the result of decades of sacrifices and colossal efforts made by the elites of the time, political leaders, the military, and the population, all driven by the overwhelming vision and desire to unite everyone who spoke the Romanian language into a single state.

Our greatest triumphs, especially gaining Independence and achieving the Great Union, defining our modernity, were accomplished when Romanians set aside their differences, prioritized the well-being and future of the state above all else, and united around the same ideals and aspirations.

Dear Romanians,

105 years after the Great Union, it is important to reflect on the successes and progress made.

We are respected members of the European Union, a family we desired to integrate into because Europe is our home.

European values are our values; European ideals are our ideals. For us, EU membership means access to significant financial resources, especially through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. European funds are building Romania and making our major national projects possible.

Thanks to our democratic path and commitment to Euro-Atlantic values, our country has a well-deserved place both in the European Union and NATO today.

In the current highly tense geopolitical situation, we see how crucial these two strategic choices are and how much they protect us by having reliable partners in challenging times.

Romania is a secure country, and its citizens have no reason to fear. Our membership in NATO provides us with the most robust security guarantees possible, and the presence of allied troops on our soil demonstrates a commitment to ensuring the stability and defense of our region.

The strategic role that Romania assumes in this area has allowed us to strongly support Moldova, not only through direct aid to Chisinau but also by continually promoting the European aspirations of Romanians beyond the Prut River.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are all aware that there is much work to be done in Romania, and long-delayed changes must continue at a much faster pace.

Supporting investments, strengthening the capacity of institutions to serve the interests of citizens correctly, developing infrastructure, consolidating healthcare services, and modernizing public administration are goals that have begun to be addressed, but we have not yet reached our intended destination.

In recent years, numerous significant projects have been initiated, including in the energy sector, where the foundations for the use of green technologies to significantly reduce dependence on imported gas, a vital aspect in the current geopolitical situation, have been laid.

Reforms of public systems have been launched, new education laws are in place, digitalization of administration continues, and resources for the modernization of the Army are secured in an extremely challenging context.

All these efforts must be continued. 2024 will be a decisive year in shaping Romania’s future. This is because we will have European Parliament elections, where we will hopefully make our voice heard in the European Union, local elections that determine the evolution of the communities we live in, parliamentary elections that will shape the governing majority, and presidential elections that will indicate the preference of Romanians for the highest office in the country.

The results of this true electoral marathon will set the course for our nation in the coming years.

Participating in all rounds of elections in a year that marks three and a half decades since the December 1989 Revolution will be a substantial exercise of our democratic maturity.

Let us not forget that the path to freedom and democracy was long and arduous, involving enormous sacrifices from many generations. Thanks to them, we have the fundamental right today to exercise our vote, the only democratic tool through which we decide the course of our country.

Therefore, it is our responsibility to protect the future of the nation and, at the same time, to remain vigilant against extremist currents that, if we are not careful enough, can become real threats to the fundamental principles of our society and our value system.

Dear Romanians,

In recent years, we have gone through serious crises, culminating in the onset of a war at our borders, a war that seemed inconceivable for Europe in these times. The months of uncertainties and fears about how the situation might evolve have not been easy.

But even though these crises are not over, we can confidently say that we have managed to maintain a solid economy, encourage investments, and ensure the security of our citizens. All this would not have been possible without stable governance, without toxic political blockages, even though criticisms can be leveled at this government. Without governmental coherence, it would have been much more challenging to navigate successfully through the multiple crises we face.

However, the most crucial support on which our nation relies is you, dear Romanians! And for this reason, on National Day, I thank you for carrying Romania in your hearts and, with your passion, dedication, and involvement, being the force that drives the progress and prosperity of our entire society!

You are the ones who, in the most difficult moments — and there have been many in recent years — have had the strength not to give up and to move forward with the hope that, through determination and perseverance, we are building a better future.

Let us steadfastly maintain the spirit of the Great Union and of the over one hundred thousand Romanians who, full of emotion, devotion, and courage, came to Alba Iulia on December 1, 1918, to join hands like brothers. May the same spirit guide us from now on, and together, let us transform Romania into the country we desire!

Happy anniversary, dear Romanians! Happy anniversary, Romania!

Can you read the full text here: https://www.presidency.ro/ro/media/discursuri/discursul-presedintelui-romaniei-klaus-iohannis-sustinut-in-cadrul-receptiei-oferite-cu-prilejul-zilei-nationale-a-romaniei1701433099