"In terms of infrastructure, in my view, Romania can get it right,” Taubman said, adding “a government for the people provides the infrastructure in which economy can flourish”.
"A fellow ambassador to Romania said to me just before his mandate ended, that no major company from his country would locate in Romania due to the fact that raw materials and finished products cannot be transported efficiently on Romanian roads and transportation systems. Transportation should be your number one priority. Romania, you will not be competitive with either your neighbors or western European trading partners until the road to Europe is finished,” Taubman said.
Asked to comment on recent criticism toward U.S. constructor Bechtel, which only managed to complete a five-kilometer section of the highway linking Romania to Hungary, Taubman said this is the constructor the Romanian government selected for the job. The ambassador also said the U.S. company is sticking to its commitments and is building the road on time, according to its contract.
On Tuesday, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said delays on the construction of the Transylvania Highway are not caused by lack of government funding, but by Bechtel’s inability to observe contract provisions.