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Mark Meyer/caption
Mark A. Meyer was born in 1946 in New York. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey (B.A. 1968; Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa 2011) St. Johns University School of Law in New York (J.D. 1971; Doctor of Laws honoris causa 2007) and Harvard Law School in Cambridge Massachusetts (LL.M. 1972; Distinguished Alumnus 2004).
Mr. Meyer is the
founder and Chairman of the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce (1990) and the Moldovan-American Chamber of Commerce (1993).
In 2002 in part through the lobbying efforts of the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce and related organizations such as the Congress of Romanian-Americans (CORA) led by its former President Armand Scala (1941-2011) Romania joined NATO. The acceptance was followed by President George W. Bushs historic visit to Bucharest on November 23 2002.
For his contributions to the business relations and cultural understanding between Romania Republic of Moldova and the United States Mark Meyer was awarded Romanias National Order of Merit in the rank of Commander (2004) and Republic of Moldovas highest civilian decoration the Medal of Civic Merit (2006).
He is a practicing attorney and an adjunct professor of law at St. Johns University Law School.
On October 4 2019 Mark Meyer attended the annual
ALIANŢA/The Alliance Gala at the Romanian Embassy in Washington DC.
With that occasion Mr. Meyer granted me an exclusive interview.
1. Mr. Mark Meyer you are the Board Chair of the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce. Describe in short the Chambers goals and perspectives in cementing the U.S.-Romanian relationship.
This is our… Were coming into our thirtieth year of existence of the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce. Which from the start and still today seeks to promote the interest of American and Romanian business in mutual trade and investment between to two countries. We have branches or chapters in Miami New York Philadelphia Cleveland Los Angeles and San Francisco. And I hope I didnt leave one out. And we are part of the European-American Chambers of Commerce which include the British-American Chamber the French Chamber you know the Germans. So we are Romanias national chamber. And the Chamber is different from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania which is a quasi-governmental organization. And its also very different from the AmCham American Chamber of Commerce in Romania which is in Romania. Because we are here and our members are seeking to support not lobby but support business activities of Romanian companies in the United States and American companies that seek to invest in Romania.
2. Thank you so much Sir. Can you also tell us a few words about the Moldovan-American Chamber of Commerce in terms of goals and activities?
Yes. But its interesting that youve mentioned that. I am also the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Moldova in New York. And the Moldovan-American Chamber of Commerce was formed shortly after Moldova became independent. And its a separate chamber of commerce but has a link to the Romanian-American Chamber. So if you join the Moldovan Chamber you are automatically a member of the Romanian and vice versa. And its goals are pretty much the same. It is needless to say not a very active organization. It is not like the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce which has events every month.
3. But it exists.
But it exists yes.
4. The last question Mr. Meyer: how do you see the role of these chambers of commerce in the era of Donald Trump a businessman turned president?
Well I dont… I frankly think we dont have anything to do with what… you know whos president. And its going to discontinue by the way who is Prime Minister of Romania or President of Romania. Weve been supportive of Romania. Romania chooses its representatives. And last week we had a simply wonderful event for Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă in New York which I dont know if you attended but it was terrific I mean with major companies attending: Amazon Berkshire Hathaway… just you know major companies. And thats not an endorsement of any particular political party. Thats simply the goal that weve had for thirty years of supporting Romania and its people.
5. Thank you so much Mr. Meyer.
In Romanian Da cu plăcere Yes with pleasure.
(October 12 2019)
TIBERIU DIANU has published several books and a host of articles in law politics and post-communist societies. He currently lives and works in Washington DC and can be followed on MEDIUM.
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