" It's an honor to see our soldiers together in this place of exercise. The last time I saw them together was in Afghanistan. (...) I do not think I fully understood the moral and physical courage of the Romanian people until I saw the front line troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I thank the 25 Romanian soldiers who gave their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. We owe them our gratitude. In Romania, the U.S. forces have found an ally ", the American Vice-president Joe Biden said during his speech at the Otopeni Military Base.
"You represent a group of patriots who keep freedom here in Europe. It is a sacred obligation to stand by you and NATO, so I can say to on the president’s behalf : You can count on us," the U.S. Vice president said .
"The borders of Europe should not be changed again by armed forces. Our strategy is more than to protest: we need to revitalize NATO so it should emerge stronger from this crisis. I want to thank our colleagues from Romania for their support and for being there for us. God bless Romania, God bless America!, concluded the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
The plane that brought U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Romania landed on Tuesday at around 15.00, on the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest.
The US Vicepresident and his wife were greeted at the airport by the Foreign Minister, Titus Corlatean and the charge d'affaires of the U.S. embassy, Duane Butcher.
The U.S. official received the Honor Guard salute. Minister Corlăţean offered to the wife of U.S. Vice President a bouquet of flowers.
Joe Biden arrived in Bucharest on board Air Force 2, the aircraft he usually flies with. The U.S. President flights are operated by Air Force 1.
The term Air Force 2 is most often associated with Boeing C-32, a modified 757 that Joe Biden flies with most frequently. Other aircrafts used as Air Force 2 are Boeing C-40 Clipper, C-20B, C-37A and C-37B.
Air Force 1 and Air Force 2 are both painted in white and blue, but according to the U.S. media, the protocol onboard the two airplanes differs: they do not serve alcoholic beverage on board Air force 2.
Biden will be in Bucharest on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the mission to address topical issues such as the bilateral economic relations, the situation in Ukraine and in the region, energy security, and combating corruption and strengthening Romanian democratic institutions.
The American official will meet Tuesday with the U.S. military deployed here, with Romanian soldiers and the families of those who have fought or are still fighting in Afghanistan, and then on Wednesday, he will meet with the President, Prime Minister and members of the civil society .
According to the White House, the discussion will focus on the international response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Also, according to Agerpres, Joe Biden will discuss with the officials in Bucharest about the need to strengthen economic relations with Romania, especially through free trade agreement EU-US, currently being negotiated.