Nicolae Ceaușescu: Difference between revisions

A series of official visits to Western countries (including the US, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France France], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom United Kingdom], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain Spain]) helped Ceaușescu to present himself as a reforming Communist, pursuing an independent foreign policy within the Soviet Bloc. Also he became eager to be seen as an enlightened international statesman, able to mediate in international conflicts and to gain international respect for Romania. Ceaușescu negotiated in international affairs, such as the opening of US relations with China in 1969 and the visit of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt Egyptian] president [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Sadat Anwar Sadat] to Israel in 1977. Also Romania was the only country in the world to maintain normal diplomatic relations with both [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel Israel] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Organization PLO].

===The 1966 decree===

In 1966, the Ceaușescu regime, in an attempt to boost the country's population, made [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion abortion] illegal, and introduced other policies to reverse the very low birth rate and fertility rate. Mothers of at least five children would be entitled to significant benefits, while mothers of at least ten children were declared ''heroine mothers'' by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Romania Romanian state]. Few women ever sought this status; instead, the average Romanian family during the time had two to three children (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Romania Demographics of Romania]). Furthermore, a considerable number of women either died or were maimed during clandestine abortions.