Decisions on security issues

Romanias Supreme Defence Council and the Security Council of the Russian Federation have concluded a memorandum of cooperation.

Valentin Țigău, 18.06.2013, 18:16

Romanian president Traian Basescu on Monday received the secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, general Nikolai Platonovici Patrusev. After the official meeting, the head of the Romanian state announced that a memorandum of cooperation was signed between Romania’s Supreme Defence Council and the Security Council of the Russian Federation, a document described as necessary in the present international context.

Traian Basescu: “This memorandum will definitely open up the cooperation between the structures of security and police of Romania and the Russian Federation. Cooperation in several areas has been thus established: cooperation against terrorism, which is of the greatest interest to us, mainly because the ISAF mission in Afghanistan is due to end soon; the cooperation with the Russian Federation is interesting to us as hopefully we can jointly prevent any terrorist attack planned in Afghanistan or Pakistan. Another major objective is the fight against cross-border crime, then human and drug trafficking.”

The Romanian president asked that president Vladimir Putin be conveyed a message that while there is cooperation between the two countries in common risk situations, there is room for discussions on issues on which the two countries may have different opinions, such as the situation in Syria. Here is president Traian Basescu again.

Traian Basescu: “The situation in Syria has been thoroughly analyzed, and we have stated Romania’s viewpoint, which is extremely clear. Both the Russian Federation and the Western countries have to refrain from supplying arms to one side or another, as that would mean more victims — there is a civil war going on there and the security of Jordan is at high risk.”

Romanian president Traian Basescu also held talks with general Nikolai Patrushev about anti-missile defence, underlining that Romania would never accept another country’s offensive weaponry on its territory.

Traian Basescu: “The anti-missile system in Romania is not directed against the Russian Federation. The system to be installed in Romania is a defensive one. And what I find difficult to understand is that guarantees are requested from the USA not from us. It is the treaty itself, which is public and could serve as a guarantee, as it says clearly that the anti-missile system in Romania is a defensive one.”

President Traian Basescu went on to say that the issue of the breakaway region of Transdniester was also tackled during the talks. The president explained why that issue was very important to Romania’s security, also highlighting the need for the government in Chishinau to have control over the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova, from which Transdniester broke away in 1990.