Romania is a country of 22 million people, approximately the size of Oregon, in eastern Europe. At the end of WWII it was occupied by troops of the Red Army, and a Communist dictatorship was installed.

The revolution of December 1989 overthrew the dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu. Many freedoms including freedom of the press and speech, as well as religion were restored. Political and economic changes have been slow and often uncertain.

A new government formed after elections in November 1996 has been making slow but definite progress toward a free market economy and is seeking very close ties, economically, politically and militarily with Western Europe and the United States.