Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate all Romanians on the celebration of your Unification Day.

"Nearly a century ago, a group of Romanian leaders came together to establish a united, democratic state that promoted the equality and freedom of its citizens. Today, we honor those early visionaries and those who have followed in their footsteps, dedicating themselves to advancing the shared values of dignity and human rights around the world.

"This year marks 135 years since the beginning of diplomatic relations between the United States and Romania, a friendship rooted in our joint commitment to embrace democratic governance and the rule of law, to promote the prosperity of our citizens through expanded trade and investment, and to stand together as NATO Allies in pursuit of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. We are particularly proud that American soldiers, sailors, aviators, and marines have served shoulder-to-shoulder with their Romanian counterparts in defense of liberty and justice across the globe, most recently in Afghanistan.

"As you mark this special day, we look forward to deepening and strengthening our partnership for many years to come."