On Friday December 20th, an RABC delegation led by Stefan Minovici, joined the official delegation from the US Embassy in Bucharest, led by Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman, as well as that of the City Mayor – Nicolae Robu, Metropolitan Nicolae Salajan, the Governor of the Region – Calin Dobra, and the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture – Mrs. Florica Chirita. The historical event represented a first when a US President is dedicating a commemorative plaque to any country in Eastern Europe. During the day, the delegation visited the City Hall, the home of Metropolitan Salajan, the Cathedral, met with Jewish leaders, visited the American Corner and greeted the audience from the balcony of the City Opera House, where the first shot of the Revolution was fired against the protesters, from the balcony. The day was followed by a luncheon with the Prime Minister of Romania, Mr. Ludovic Orban, Senator Alina Goghiu, Congressman Ben-Oni Ardelean, and more than 50 of the business and civic leaders of Timisoara, at the Timisoara Hotel. Ambassador Zuckerman, as well as the City Mayor, the Governor and the President of the Chamber of Commerce, praised the efforts of the Romanian-American Business Council, and the initiative in strengthening the bilateral relations and the partnership between the US and Romania.
