CNN and Romania

This letter comes to you in appreciation of CNNs professionalism andomnipresence in the hot spots of our world. Also, this is a request andreply of some worldwide Romanian organizations, whose members areconcerned by the unfair presentation of the biased Romanian SexTrade documentary regarding the Romanian juvenile prostitution,pedophilia and street children, broadcasted by CNN on February 15 and22, 2004, and previously presented in December 2003.

While we are aware of the life aspects that have to be changed inRomania, such as rare cases of child sex abuse and trafficking revealedin your program, we are concerned by the unfair focus on a situationthat does not and has never characterized the Romanian society. Childsex abuse is a global problem, affecting European as well as othercountries.

We know that CNN is the most important global network shaping viewsworldwide. We will always remember that CNN has covered crucial storiesin Romania such as the outstanding live broadcasting of the 1989Romanian Revolution and other more recently like the visits ofPresidents Clinton and Bush in Romania. We will be happy if you revisitthe Romania issue from the point of view of an old and very importantEuropean culture, a country with hospitable people, working hard withlimited financial resources to meet the requirements of the globalsociety.

The CNN documentary program came at a time when Romania is cornered bydifferent political forces due in part to its strong ties with the USand pro-US views. Its repeated broadcasting at high impact hours now,when Romania is in the European Union's spotlight regardinginternational adoptions does not help in promoting a real image of theefforts Romania has been making towards improving its citizens lifeand building an authentic democracy, in order to enhance its chances tojoin the EU in 2007.

We hope that CNN will help Romania to present its positive sides too,as the country struggles to modernize its economy, and solve newcritical issues such as the ones you have addressed.

It is our strong belief that Romanians should not only be given achance, but also a helpful hand from friends in the USA and abroad inorder to accelerate the building of a truly modern and democraticcountry involved in today's global society.

There are many less-shocking media projects about Romania that couldde-couple it from the vicious circle of the stereotypes and negativismcurrently promoted by some international media organizations, withdirect impact on Romanias capacity of solving a range of societalproblems.

Here are some ideas:

- Romanias flourishing tourism industry. Romania is a wonderfulcountry; it has been selected for its Virginia - like landscapes byAnthony Minghella, Director of Cold Mountain feature movie! Theprogram could attract more normal people to visit our country, ratherthen pedophiles;

- Romanias gifted students, who annually get major awards from variousinternational competitions (Gold medals for the last 5 years in theWorld Math Olympiads);

- Romanias IT talents and their recognized contributions to globalprogress. Romania is constantly attracting major IT companies, eitherUS (Microsoft, Oracle), Canadian (Tele systems wireless), or European;

- Romania as native land of worldwide famous leaders in science, art,culture, literature and politics: Eng. Henri Coanda, inventor, Prof Dr.George Emil Palade, Nobel Prize (Medicine), ex-director of TheRockefeller Institute from New York, Professor Nicolae Mangeron(important contributions in NASA space programs), Ellie Wiesel, NobelPrice for Peace, Constantin Brancusi, sculptor, Eugen Ionesco,playwriter Mircea Eliade, philosopher and writer, George Enescu,composer, Virginia Zeani, opera Diva, professor of canto in Baltimore,Sergiu Celibidache and Yoel Levi, Symphony Orchestra Conductors,Alexandra Nechita - the so called "Little Picasso", HorstKoehler, head of the International Monetary Fund for the past fouryears and a former deputy finance minister, Michael Howard, former UKHome Secretary and current leader of the Conservative party, NicolaeTitulescu politician ambassador of Romania and President of the Leagueof Nations, Nadia Comaneci, gold prize gymnast, IlieNastase, tennis champion, Lia Roberts, head of the Republican Party inNevada, now in the presidential race in Romania, Liliana Pagu(presented as one of 100 world outstanding women in Whos Who, etc.

- Romania takes action: a subsequent program about how the RomanianGovernment and NGOs are tackling the problem of homeless children.Romania is one of the few countries that had addressed and solved AIDSproblems for children patients.

- Investing in Romania: Romania is one of the most attractive economiesin Central and Eastern Europe;

- Romania and the US: a lasting partnership. Romania as a trusted USpartner, be it in NATO, UN, or EU.

Romanians are aspiring to regain the world's confidence and trust after50 years of imposed harsh communism. We stand united with the US, GreatBritain and other countries in the fight against terrorism. Romania wasthe second country after Great Britain to join The United States inthis fight, and recognized the importance of preserving a strongtrans-Atlantic EU relationship with the US.

A talk show with personalities of the Romanian society from all overthe world and from Romania to be hosted at CNNs Atlanta headquartersand in Romania would be a very interesting approach to which we hopeyou will subscribe.

Thank you once again for your efforts to promote a balanced image abouttoday's Romania and Romanians worldwide.

With best regards.

Romanian version:

Domnului : Aaron Brown
Director
CNN, Atlanta, Georgia

Eason Jordan,
Director
CNN International Desk
Atlanta, Georgia

Expeditor. Dr. Theodor Ban et all
([email protected])( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RomaniansWorldwide )

( [email protected] )

Paris Martie 6, 2004

Stimati Domni.

Aceasta scrisoare vine ca o apreciere la adresa profesionalismului si aomniprezentei CNN-ului in punctele de maxim interes ale lumii.Totodata, ea este o cerere si un raspuns al catorva organizatii alesocietatii civile romanesti, din lumea intreaga, ai caror membrii,cetateni respectabili ai societatii in care traiesc, sunt revoltati deprezentarea documentarului referitor la prostitutia juvenila inRomania, la pedofilie si la copiii strazii, programul CNN intitulatRomanian Sex Trade, difuzat de postul dumneavoastra in 15 si 22febraurie 2004, precum si in decembrie 2003.

Desi, bineinteles, recunoastem aspectele de viata care trebuieschimbate in Romania zilelor noastre, cum ar fi cazurile rare deabuzuri sexuale asupra copiilor si traficul de persoane, reflectate inprogramul dumneavoastra, in acelasi timp suntem revoltati defocalizarea nedreapta asupra unei situatii care nu a caracterizat si nucaracterizeaza societatea romaneasca. Abuzurile sexuale asupracopiilor nu sunt o problema numai pentru Romania, ci afecteaza atattarile Europei cat si alte tari.

Stim ca CNN este cea mai importanta retea de stiri din lume. Vamultumim, din nou, pentru emisiunile live ale Revolutiei din 1989 si aaltor evenimente importante din ultimii ani, cum au fost vizitelepresedintilor Clinton si Bush in Romania.

Va rugam sa revedeti opinia dumneavoastar fata de Romania, care este otara cu o veche cultura europeana, cu oameni ospitalieri, care muncescdin greu, cu resurse financiare reduse, pentru a crea o societatemoderna.

Documentarul difuzat pe postul CNN a venit in momentul in care Romaniaera pusa la colt de diferite cercuri politice, pe fondul unorlegaturi puternice cu Statele Unite si pro-americane. Difuzarea sarepetata la ore de maxima audienta, tocmai acum, cand Romania se aflain vizorul UE, cu privire la adoptiile internationale nu au darul de aajuta la promovarea unei imagini reale a eforturilor romanesti de arealiza progrese in construirea unei democratii autentice si a unuinivel de trai mai bun, menite sa o ajute a-si spori sansele de aderarela UE in 2007.

Speram ca CNN va ajuta Romania sa-si prezinte si partile pozitive,deoarece Romania se zbate sa-si modernizeze economia si sa-si rezolveproblemele critice, cum ar fi cele pe care dumneavoastra le-atimentionat.

Suntem increzatori ca romanii ar merita nu numai o sansa, dar si o manade ajutor de la prieteni din SUA si de pretutindeni, in scopul de a-sicrea o tara moderna, in adevaratul sens al cuvantului, democratica sievoluata, in contextul actual al societatii mondiale.

Ar fi multe proiecte mai putin socante despre Romania, care ar putea sao scoata din cercul vicios de stereotipii si negativism promovat demass-media, cu un impact direct asupra capacitatii Romaniei de arezolva o gama de probleme ale societatii noastre.

Iata cateva exemple:

- Dezvoltarea industriei turismului. Romania este o tara atat defrumoasa! Ea a fost aleasa ca tara de bastina, o Virginia, pentrufilmul Cold Mountain de Directorul Antony Minghella. Acest program arputea atrage simpli cetateni sa ne viziteze, mai multi decat pedofilii;

- Elevii inzestrati ai Romaniei, care, anual, primesc premiiimportante, in diferite competitii internationale (medalii de aur inultimii 5 ani la Olimpiadele de matematica);

- Specialistii in IT ai Romaniei si contributia lor la progresulglobal. Romania atrage atentia unor firme de prestigiu in domeniul IT,fie ele din SUA (Microsoft, Oracle), din Canada (Telesystems wireless), sau din Europa;

- Romania este tara de origine a unor lideri recunoscuti in lumeaintreaga, din stiinta, arta, cultura, literatura si politica: Ing.Henri Coanda, inventator, Prof. Dr. George Emil Palade, detinator alPremiului Nobel pentru medicina, ex-director al InstitutuluiRockefeller din New York, Profesor Nicolae Mangeron (importantcontributor la programele spatiale ale NASA), Ellie Wiesel, PremiulNobel pentru pace, faimosul sculptor Constantin Brancusi, scriitorulEugen Ionesco, Mircea Eliade, filozof si scriitor, George Enescu,compozitor, Virginia Zeani, diva Operei, professor de canto inBaltimore, Sergiu Celibidache si Yoel Levi, dirijori al OrchestreiSimfonice, Alexandra Nechita - cea numita micul Picasso, HorstKoehler, Presedintele Fondului Monetar International in ultimii 4 anisi fost deputat si ministru al finantelor, Michael Howard, fostsecretar al Marii Britanii si actual lider al Partidului Conservator,Nicolae Titulescu, politician si ambasador al Romaniei, Presedinte alLigii Natiunilor Unite, Nadia Comaneci, gimnasta de aur, Ilie Nastase,campion de tenis, Lia Roberts, presedinte al Partidului Republican dinNevada, aflata acum in cursa pentru presedintia Romaniei, Liliana Pagu,premiata intre primele 100 de femei ale lumii, etc. Si lista ar puteacontinua...

- Romania este parte activa intr-un program consecvent, in careGuvernul Romaniei si ONG-urile incearca rezolvarea problemei copiilorstrazii. Romania este recunoscuta ca una dintre putinele tari care aurezolvat problemele ridicate de proliferarea maladiei SIDA in randulcopiilor .

- Investitii in Romania: Romania este una dintre cele mai atractiveeconomii, din acest punct de vedere, in Europa Centrala si de Est.

- Parteneriatul de durata dintre Romania si SUA: Romania este unpartener de incredere al SUA, fie in NATO, ONU sau UE.

Dupa 50 de ani de prigoana si hartuire comunista, dorim sa recastigamincrederea si respectul lumii intregi. Noi ne-am alaturat StatelorUnite, Marii Britanii si altor state in lupta contra terorismului.Romania a fost a doua tara, dupa Marea Britanie, care s-a alaturat SUAin aceasta lupta impotriva terorismului si recunoaste mentinerealegaturilor transatlantice dintre Uniunea Europeana si Statele Uniteale Americii.

Un talk show cu personalitati ale societatii romanesti din toata lumea,

gazduit fie de CNN Atlanta, fie in Romania, ar fi o apropiereinteresanta, careia speram ca ii veti raspunde.

Va multumim, inca o data, pentru efortul dumneavoastra de a promova oimagine echilibrata a Romaniei zilelor noastre si a romanilor din lumeaintreaga.

Cu salutari sincere

Organizations:

1. International Committee of The World Union of Free Romanian (UMRL)Saint Maur, Paris, France www.consiliu.org

2. Romanian World Council, USA www.consiliu.org

3. Alliance of Romanian Canadians, Toronto, Canada, www.arcweb.ca

4. Foundation for Romanians, Florida, USA www.Matasa.net

5. Romanian American Trade and Business Bureau, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

6. Youth for a Better World, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia, USA

7. American Romanian Sister Cities Council, Inc, Atlanta, USA

8. Romanian American Council, Pico Rivera, California, USA

9. Romanian World Council Branch, Rialto, California, USA

10. Romanian World Council Branch; Atlanta, Georgia USA

11. Romanian-American Cultural Center "Athenaeum" of Atlanta,

Georgia, USA

Persons

1. Dr. Theodor Ban, Secretary General of International Committee of TheWorld Union of Free Romanians Kerkrade, Netherlands,[email protected]; www.gurke.nl

2, Prof. Smaranda Livescu, Secretary General of The World RomanianCouncil, President Founder of The Romanian-American Cultural Center"Athenaeum" of Atlanta, Georgia, USA [email protected]

3. Florin Rapan, IT specialist, Toronto, Canada, Alliance of RomanianCanadians, [email protected]

4. Eng. Florentina Ilie, President of the Promotion the EuropeanPrinciples in the New Structures of the Romanian Society Association,Pitesti, Romania [email protected]

5. Eng. Virgil Ciuca, New York [email protected]

6. Diana Voicu, Freiburg, Germany [email protected]

7. Sisila Duldurescu, Vice-President of The World Union of FreeRomanians Paris [email protected]

8. Eng. Doru Novacovici, Honour President of The World Union of FreeRomanians, Paris [email protected]

9. Eng. Mircea Popescu, President of The World Romanian Council, CostaMesa California, USA [email protected]

10. Dr. Alexandu Mircea Munteanu, President of The World Union of FreeRomanians, Bad Rappenau, Germany, A.M.Munteanu@t-online-de

11. Marcel Ban, IT specialist, Toronto, President of Alliance ofRomanian Canadians. [email protected] (www.thebans.com)

12. Alexander Popescu, student, Hagen, Germany [email protected]

13. Prof. Claude Matasa, DCE, DSc, Prof of Oral Biomaterials,Hollywood, Florida, USA, President of Foundation for Romanians,www.Matasa.net

14. Dumitru Popescu, Director Romanian-Canadian Newspaper Observator,Toronto, Canada [email protected]

15. Cornel Dobre, Suedia, [email protected]

16. Liliana Pagu, President of Womens Association of Romania,Bucharest, Romania [email protected]; www.afr.ro

17. Lucian I. Livescu, President of the Romanian American Trade andBusiness Bureau, Youth for a Better World, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia,American Romanian Sister Cities Council, Inc., Atlanta([email protected])

18. Nicu Popa, President of The Romanian American Council, Pico Rivera,California, USA [email protected]

19. Prof. Eugen Cojocaru, Stuttgart, Germany [email protected]

20. Doina Muresan, New York [email protected]

21. Octavian Mihaescu, Gochsheim, Germany [email protected]

22. Gabriel Bostan, Director Romanian World Council Branch, Rialto,California, USA [email protected]

23. Paul Carahan, Director Romanian World Council Branch; Atlanta,Georgia USA [email protected]

24. Elena Angela Silistraru, Italia, [email protected]

25. Eng.Victor Todoriuc, Atlanta, Georgia, USAvic[email protected]