Romanian and US Foreign Affairs Ministers Met In Washington

The foreign affairs minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu and the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met in Washington for a frank talk on the issues still to be solved in the bilateral relations of Romania and the US.

High on the agenda was the case of Christopher Van Goethem, the US marine receiving a reprimand only from the US military justice system after killing in a car accident, in Bucharest, Romanian rock star Teo Peter.

Also addressed were the issues of visa waivers for Romanian citizens and that of operating the US military bases in Romania only with bilateral consultations and coordination.

The family of Peter contacted an US law firm which has two ways to find redress for the Peters. One is to take the administrative path; the other is to file a civil law suit against Van Goethem.

Ungureanu said Romanian authorities delayed their help to the Peters to wait first the decision of the US courts.

Van Goethem may not be tries a second time in a criminal law suit, but chances to find him liable in a civil suit are vary high.

Rice said "Thank you Romania" and wanted to find out which is the time-line for the Romanian parliament to adopt the Access Agreement allowing US military to operate from Romania’s territory.

Translated by Anca Paduraru