12 years ago, on March 29, Romania joined NATO
\nby submitting the ratification instruments to the US State Department, the
\nrepository of the NATO treaty. On April 2, 2004, Romania’s flag was hoisted at
\nthe NATO headquarters. Since 2005, Romania has celebrated NATO Day every year
\non the first Sunday of April, an opportunity to celebrate democracy and
\nEuropean and euro-Atlantic values. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
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\n
<\/p>\n
This year, a military ceremony was held at the
\nheadquarters of the Defence Ministry, which opened its doors to the public.
\nOther events included a weapon handling demonstration held by the Mihai Viteazu
\n30th Guard Regiment, an exhibition of military technique and
\nscreenings of films with a military theme. A special military ceremony also
\ntook place at the Kandahar airbase in Afghanistan, which was attended by
\nsoldiers of the Calugareni Force Protection Infantry Battalion as well as by
\nthe team training the Afghan security forces. Besides these ceremonies, NATO
\nDay was also an occasion for the Romanian officials to reiterate that Romania
\nis a reliable NATO ally, which participates actively in the process of NATO
\nconsolidation. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
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<\/p>\n
The country’s defence minister Mihnea Motoc
\nrecalled that in the 12 years that have passed since its NATO accession,
\nRomania has proved that it is a trusted ally: <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Romania is appreciated as a solid ally. Within
\nNATO, it is known that Romania is an ally that has always observed its pledges.
\nWe have a major contribution to all NATO-run operations and missions, we have
\nhad a major contribution to the exchange of information within the Alliance
\never since we joined the Alliance, and today I am proud, as a Romanian, that
\nour citizens continue to support these international organisations that are
\nessential for the world we live in today and whose values we share.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
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In the context of a radically different
\nsecurity situation in Europe over the past years, Romania maintains its
\ncommitment to contribute to the strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank, as
\nstated by both the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and prime minister Dacian
\nCiolos. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
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<\/p>\n
Klaus Iohannis said Romania’s NATO accession 12
\nyears ago was one of the most remarkable achievements of the contemporary
\nRomanian foreign policy. Prime minister Ciolos pointed out that his government
\nmaintains its promise to increase the army’s operational capacity and to
\nallocate it the necessary funds to acquire the needed equipment and improve the
\nquality of life for the military. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Last year, Bucharest saw the inauguration of
\nthe Multinational Division Southeast, an allied command and control structure,
\nas well as of the NATO Force Integration Unit. Works are under way to finalise
\nthe American anti-missile defence shield in Deveselu, in southern Romania,
\nwhich will soon be transferred to NATO forces as scheduled. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Romania maintains its commitment to contribute to the consolidation of NATOs eastern flank, say Romanian authorities on NATO Day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":68056,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[31815,116464],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-68055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-nato-day","tag-romania-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n