Antena 3 CNN World NATO's Stoltenberg: Romania - committed ally; NATO has a solemn commitment to Romania's security

NATO's Stoltenberg: Romania - committed ally; NATO has a solemn commitment to Romania's security

NATO's Stoltenberg: Romania - committed ally; NATO has a solemn commitment to Romania's security
12 Mai 2016   •   17:24

In Bucharest on Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pointed out that Romania is a committed NATO ally and that NATO has a solemn commitment to Romania's security.

"Romania is a very committed and staunch Ally which has contributed over many years to our collective defence and our shared security and I thank you for the strong and important Romanian commitments and contributions to NATO (...) and NATO has a solemn commitment to Romania's security. Now and for the future," Stoltenberg told a joint news conference with President Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

He added that Romania also makes an important contribution to NATO's Ballistic Missile Defence system, by hosting an Aegis Ashore site in Deveselu, which helps protect European Allies against missile threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area.

"Romania also plays a constructive role in ensuring stability in the Black Sea region, which is important for our security," said Stoltenberg.

The NATO secretary general said NATO has responded decisively to a changed and more challenging security environment.

"We have increased our presence in the eastern part of our Alliance, including here in Romania. Romania hosts a new small headquarters, here in Bucharest, which I visited together with you last year. And you have activated the Multinational Division South-East Headquarters, which is now being tested. And I'm looking forward to visiting these Headquarters later on this morning. Both headquarters will boost our ability to plan and exercise, and to reinforce if needed. Not to threaten anyone but to protect our nations."

Stoltenberg said NATO will keep channels of dialogue open with Russia.

"Especially in times of tension, transparency and predictability are important to reduce risks of miscalculations and accidents," he said.

Stoltenberg hailed Romania's commitment to increase defence spending to 2 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which shows Romania is following up on its commitments.

"That is a very welcome step in the right direction. And I encourage you to continue on that road, because the protection of our citizens is paramount. We must have all the resources and capabilities to keep our citizens safe in a more dangerous world," said the NATO official.

Stoltenberg added that Romania is also playing a key part in projecting stability beyond the NATO borders, in Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. "You make a great contribution to our Trust Fund on Cyber Defence for Ukraine. That shows real leadership," he said.

"You have also shown continued commitment to our missions in Kosovo and in Afghanistan. Our mission to train the Afghan forces remains challenging and it comes at a high cost. I pay tribute to the two Romanian officers who were recently killed in Kandahar in the service of their duties. And I wish their wounded colleague a speedy recovery," said Stoltenberg.

Source: Agerpres

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