DATE=7/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235581
TITLE=CLINTON / ROMANIA (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MET AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH 
VISITING ROMANIAN PRESIDENT EMIL CONSTANTINESCU AND REAFFIRMED 
U-S SUPPORT FOR ROMANIA'S BID TO GAIN NATO MEMBERSHIP. V-O-A'S 
DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT:  ROMANIA WAS PASSED OVER IN THE FIRST ROUND OF NATO 
EXPANSION LAST YEAR. BUT AN UNDAUNTED PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU 
HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING IN WASHINGTON FOR ITS EVENTUAL INCLUSION -- 
SAYING MEMBERSHIP WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO SUSTAINING ROMANIAN 
DEMOCRACY.

A STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER HIS HOUR-LONG VISIT HERE SAID PRESIDENT 
CLINTON REITERATED U-S COMMITMENT TO HELP MAKE ROMANIA THE 
"STRONGEST POSSIBLE CANDIDATE" FOR NATO AND FOR OTHER WESTERN 
STRUCTURES.

IT ALSO EXPRESSED THE TWO LEADERS' MUTUAL CONCERN ABOUT THE 
SITUATION IN KOSOVO AND DETERMINATION TO SEEK A DIPLOMATIC 
RESOLUTION OF THE CRISIS.  

THE WHITE HOUSE TALKS CAME JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FIRST 
ANNIVERSARY OF A VISIT TO BUCHAREST BY MR. CLINTON -- WHICH WAS 
MARKED BY A TUMULTUOUS WELCOME FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF 
ROMANIANS.  ESCORTING HIS ROMANIAN COUNTERPART TO MEET REPORTERS 
AFTER THEIR TALKS, MR. CLINTON RECALLED WHAT HE TERMED HIS 
"INCREDIBLE" ROMANIAN VISIT:

                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY//

         I STILL REMEMBER THE MASSIVE CROWD OF ROMANIANS THAT 
         CAME OUT TO WELCOME ME THERE AND WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY IT
         WAS. THE PROGRESS HIS NATION IS MAKING IS VERY 
         IMPRESSIVE AND THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE.

                          ///END ACT///

PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU -- FOR HIS PART -- SAID HE EXPRESSED 
ROMANIA'S DEEP DESIRE TO BE A FACTOR FOR STABILITY IN CENTRAL AND
SOUTHEAST EUROPE AND TO DO AWAY WITH ALL THAT WAS BAD IN THE PAST
-- A REFERENCE TO THE COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP OF NICOLAE CEAUSESCU
OVERTHROWN IN 1989.

THE ROMANIAN LEADER HAS CONCEDED HERE THAT THE PROCESS OF 
ECONOMIC REFORM IN HIS COUNTRY HAS NOT GONE AS WELL AS HOPED. THE
WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT SAID THE LEADERS STRESSED THE "CRUCIAL 
NEED" TO ACCELERATE PRIVATIZATION OF ROMANIA'S BANKS AND LARGE 
STATE ENTERPRISES -- AND TO REFOCUS REFORMS WITH THE AIM OF 
SECURING ADDITIONAL HELP FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.

PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCU APPEALED FOR U-S INVESTMENTS TO HELP 
ROMANIA DEVELOP A HIGH-TECH INFRASTRUCTURE, A PROCESS HE SAID 
WOULD BE HELPED BY THE 15-THOUSAND ROMANIAN STUDENTS NOW PURSUING
ADVANCED DEGREES ON THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/LTD/JO

16-Jul-98 1:54 PM EDT (1754 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.