Bucharest, 8 October 2011 - ROMANIA SUPPORTS A STRONG AND ROBUST ALLIANCE, SAYS ROMANIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER

The Romanian Parliament will soon be asked to ratify the agreement on the deployment of elements of the US anti-ballistic missile system in Romania, which represents a significant step towards enhancing the security of both countries, he said.

In his presentation “Romania’s vision on the Future of NATO” to the Political Committee of NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly, Baconschi expressed hope that the treaty will be ready by the end of the year.

"Romania considers the missile defence facilities in our country to be an important contribution to and a part of the future NATO missile defence system. We view this not only as a strategic project, but as one dedicated to the future of the Alliance”, said the foreign minister.

He assured lawmakers that Romania is determined to work with other allies in order to make the missile defence project one of the main deliverables in the NATO summit in Chicago next year.

Baconschi stressed the important contribution of Romania to the International Community’s efforts in Afghanistan, where there are more than 1.900 Romanian soldiers and its contribution to the training of the Afghan Security Forces.  

Regarding NATO’s action in Libya, which Romania considers to be a success, the foreign minister urged for a "deeper evaluation of the lessons learned, starting with the ways in which early warning systems function."

Romania supports the continued efforts by NATO and other players to stabilizing the Western Balkans and wants to see a South-Eastern Europe whose future is anchored in the stable, established democratic institutions of the Euro-Atlantic area, he added.

In the Black Sea region Romania will contribute to developing ways in which NATO can encourage regional security and wants to see a robust partnership with countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia, which would also enhance NATO’s capacity to carry out its mission in Afghanistan, said Baconschi.

The Euro-Atlantic frontier, based on democracy, freedom and security should not stop at the Alliance’s Eastern border, the minister said, adding that Romania “has been and will continue to be a strong and active advocate of strengthening the partnership with the Republic of Moldova, thus consolidating its commitment to the European path.”  

Romania believes that it is important to keep the Ukraine engaged and on track of cooperation and reforms. “At the same time, we hope that NATO-Russia Partnership will become a strategic partnership”, he concluded.