Prospects Ahead of the NATO Summit
The Strategic Partnership between Bucharest and Washington and the anti-missile shield were high on the agenda of talks between Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the NATO ministerial meeting in Brus
Eugen Cojocariu, 26.04.2012, 17:13
130 bilateral projects to be implemented in the following period were identified during the talks, when a Romania- USA task force meeting in Bucharest was also scheduled in early May. The problems encountered by the Romanians traveling to the United States were also high on the agenda and the parties agreed to work together to diminish the visa rejection rate. Here is Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu:
Cristian Diaconescu: “Mrs. Hillary Clinton and I decided to set up a technical taskforce, through which both parties get informed on national jurisdiction and working procedures, so that such situations be avoided in the future. It’s for the first time the US wants to work with us to find proper and quick solutions and should the American legislation in this respect be amended, we hope that visa rejection will be regulated and we’ll benefit from free movement in the USA.”
Designed by Washington as a defence line against any possible missile attacks from Iran, the anti-missile shield in Europe, which after the NATO summit in Chicago over May the 20th and 21st is to also become a NATO defence line, was also high on the agenda of the talks. The US Secretary of State voiced satisfaction at Bucharest’s stand on the shield issue as some of its elements are to be installed on Romanian territory.
‘The anti-missile defence project becomes a reality thanks to Romania’s efforts’- Mrs.Hillary Clinton pointed out; the US official also extended thanks for the continued Romanian presence in Afghanistan. Cristian Diaconescu underlined that the Romanian troops would stay in Afghanistan by mid-2013. After the Romanian troops’ departure, responsibility will be transferred to the Afghan authorities. Moreover, Romania will contribute to the preparations for the economic recovery of the Afghan state.
