Foreign and Defense Ministries present activity reports
Romanian ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense have recently presented the activity reports six months after taking office.
Roxana Vasile, 08.08.2018, 11:58
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila has recently presented her Government’s activity report for the first six months in office. Since then various ministers have stepped forward to present the activity reports of the ministries they represent. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu and Defense Minister Mihai Fifor presented their achievements. At diplomatic level, Minister Melescanu said it was Romania’s interest to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a topic that sparked heated debates in Bucharest.
Teodor Melescanu says an analysis in this respect has been drafted and will soon be submitted to the country’s president, the Prime Minister and Parliament. Teodor Melescanu: “We tried to separate the pros from the cons and identify any judicial issues such an initiative might entail, given that Security Council’s Resolution 478 stipulates that all countries should base their embassies to Israel in Tel Aviv”.
Teodor Melescanu also tackled relations with Russia: “We are supporting the deterrence policy and dialogue with Russia, which should be based on mutual interests and observing the principles and standards of international law”.
The Romanian official went on to say that preparations for Romania taking over the presidency of the European Council are on schedule. As an ally of NATO, Bucharest will also seek to increase its role within NATO. At the latest NATO summit, Romania offered to host an army corps command center, a resolution which NATO ratified. On the sidelines of the event a special meeting was devoted to security in the Black Sea region, and Romania succeeded in securing an increased presence of allied navy in the area. Also at military level, Defense Minister Mihai Fifor said Bucharest continued its efforts to modernize the army, grounded on a 2% budget allocation. Among the achievements reported in the last six months is the purchase of Patriot and Hymers missile systems and starting procedures for the purchase of four multi-role corvettes. The main challenge this year, Minister Fifor argues, is the development of the Cantacuzino Military Health Institute.
Mihai Fifor: “Talks are already underway with a series of well-established vaccine manufacturers in order to identify a potential cooperation in this sector”.
One of the largest producers of vaccines at global level and center of excellence in research and innovation, the Cantacuzino Institute has been experiencing difficulties in the past 10 years, at times being on the brink of bankruptcy. Last year the Institute has been placed in the subordination of the Defense Ministry, which has rekindled hope for its restoration.
