American Human Rights Abuses in Romania Revising the Consulate's Attitude
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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 1999 13:05:36 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: American Human Rights Abuses in Romania Revising the Consulate's Attitude
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Olga Lazin <[email protected]>
American Human Rights Abuses in Romania Revising the
Consulate's Attitude
Dear colleagues, the American government agencies still operate as old
time Cold War machines, please help Romanian citizens to be treated
right at the American Consulates around the world. Please read, sign
and send this to your Senator. Thanks a priori,
Olga Lazin
Mr. Consul Steven Patisson:
August 7, 1999
TO: Mr. Steve Patisson
U. S. Consul in Bucharest
FM: Romanian Diaspora Organizations, & Covacs Joseph (Portland, OR),
Olga Lazin
RE: Revising the Consulate's Attitude in Bucharest Toward Romanians
(Tourist or Specialist Visas For Romanians & Summer Interns at UCLA
from Sighet)
Dear Steve,
Following up our e-mail about the denial of visas to half of our UCLA
Group from Sighet, we write to express concern and to seek your help
regarding a broader and alarming issue.
We have acknowledged hundreds of other cases of visa denials and we
express our sadness vis a vis the USA Consular service in Bucharest
and around the world.
Also, we are appaled at the draconic treatment most of the Romanians
are subjected when applying for a visa. (see Mr. Big Radu's remarks on
humiliation.)
Therefore we are suggesting some changes to be made in order to
democratize the visa processing, so that the USA does not seem to only
demagogically proclaim the Bill of Rights, and then apply double
standards, which happens in reality.
First case:
We had requested that we follow the Group Visa method precisely to
avoid the "case-by-case" method which does not help consular officers
(no matter how conscientious) understand that a Group is coming to
UCLA and returning to the home country as a Group. The Group Visa
method is the procedure that works well with the U.S. Consulate in
Mexico (which is perhaps more concerned about illegal immigration to
the USA than any post in the world); and we have never had anyone
overstay their visa let alone not return. (If your consular office is
not familiar with the Group Visa method, I will be pleased to supply
information on whom to contact whom at our Embassy in Mexico City.)
Taking into account the information in your Spring 1999 "Letter from
Bucharest" which carries messages by you and Ambassador James
Rosapepe, we write in hopes that we can still rescue the present
Summer Program, the critical mass of which is at least seven persons.
Two additional persons can still come (thus giving us the seven
needed), however, and I am pleased to say that they will reapply for
visas. They will have with them this time the letters from CDIMM
Maramures (Development Center for Small and Medium Business
Enterprises in Maramures), which shows them to be part of the UCLA
Group:
(1) Alexandru Lazin, who filled out his visa application when Olga
(his sister was with you in Romania) and who apparently filled out the
form too literally (Olga was in not in the USA at the time, but does
live here, as you know). Alexander has made two trips from Romania to
Mexico (1997 and 1999) and now needs to visit the USA. He is our most
advanced intern on the Mexico side of our Program. He will have his
letter with him that notifies you that he is Program Coordinator for
CDIMM.
(2) Dana Lazin, who is a legal assistant for the law firm of Lenuta
Bledea in Sighet, will upon reapplication have with her a letter from
CDIMM notifying you that she is Program Coordinator for Globalization
Studies. With her computer specialization, she will be taking back her
knowledge to establish via internet a virtual library for Sighet.
Please let us know how else I can be of assistance in resolving this
matter.
We appreciate your help; and we look forward to visiting with you on
our next visit.
We request therefore that you change and democratize the visa
processing toward all Romanians, with all our hope for change:
Dr. Nicolae Constantinescu, Consul General, Los Angeles, CA
Dr. James Platler, Pepperdine University, CA, USA
Dr. James Wilkie, UCLA, Latin American Studies, Chair
Joseph Covacs, President Association of Romanian Citizens, Portland,
Oregon
Octavian Geliman, CA, USA
Vasile Stoica
Olga M. Lazin, AmROm, CEO
Mihaela MIHET
Ionica Maris
Dr. Nathan Shapira, UCLA
Dr. Florentina Grecu, LA, CA
Dr. Corduneanu Constantin, Los Angeles, CA
Mihai Popescu, Monitorul Bucuresti
Lia Stan, Detroit, USA
Alexandru Lazin
Daniela Lazin
Dr. Raul Lomeli
Liviu Gabriel Ratiu
Mircea Trufasu, RO
Dr. Sanda Agalidi
Mircea Popescu, CA, USA
Luminita Lazin, Sighet, RO
Cristian Calugarita, CA, USA
Vladi Knejevici, Bucuresti, RO
Mircea Baniciu, Bucuresti, RO,
Mircea Vintila, Bucuresti, USA
Florin Pittis, Bucuresti, USA
Dr. Peter Manu, New York, USA
Bogdan Cojocneanu, San Jose, CA, USA
Mircea Roman, Toronto, Canada
Alexander-Peter Popescu
Chris Vigueria, LA, CA, USA
Mihai Patrascu, Baia Mare, MM, RO
Kenneth Davis, LA, CA, USA
Sara D. Tucker, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Vasile Stoica, RO
Peter Rashkin, Los Angeles, Carson, USA
Valentin Grecu, LA, CA
Elena Chiriac & Linda Chiriac, LA, CA, USA
Lazin Gheorghe, Budapesta, Hungary
Covacs Arpad, Satu Mare, RO
Mircea Mirea, Ny, USA
Stacy Dukes, LA, CA
Dr. Ana Moldovan, Baia Mare, RO
Mircea Moldovan, Baia Mare, RO,
Linda Moldovan, Baia Mare, RO
Marcela Peterliceanu, Baia Mare, RO
Vasile Bouleanu, LA, CA, USA
Mircea Mirea, LA, CA, USA
Dr. Joel Bienenfield, LA, CA, USA
Marcel+Diana Ban, Totonto, CA
Michelle Wilkie, LA, CA, USA
Liviu Ratiu, Tg. Mures, RO
Daniel Racovitan, Bucharest, RO
American Romanian Foundation members
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