Minister of National Defense in Official Visit in Vilnius

(Source: Romanian Ministry of Defence; issued May 4, 2006)

“There is a significant potential to be set into value, especially the full professionalization of our armed forces and our status as NATO member is a solid base for strengthening the cooperation between our armed forces” stressed the Minister of National Defense Teodor Atanasiu within the meeting in Vilnius with his Lithuanian counterpart Gediminas Kirkilas.

Atanasiu expressed his satisfaction on the cooperation between the two armed forces and presented to the Lithuanian Minister the Romanian offer for training, next year, the Lithuanian traffic controllers by the Romanian Air Force specialists.

According to NATO engagements, four Romanian MiG 21 LanceRs with crews and technical equipment will be deployed to a Lithuanian base, between August and October 2007 for air police missions within the Lithuanian air space.

“ I often heard my colleagues appreciating the Romanian soldiers and we are very interested in enlarging the cooperation between our armed forces” the Lithuanian Minister of Defense said during the meeting and stressed on the special attention to be paid to the actions the Romanian soldiers will develop in Lithuania, next year.

Gediminas Kirkilas transmitted to Minister Teodor Atanasiu condolences for the post mortem Second Lieutenant Bogdan Hancu, who died in mission in Iraq in a terrorist attack and expressed his conviction that “you will not loose your strength in participating in such type of missions”.

Yesterday, the Romanian Minister of National Defense met the Lithuanian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and visited the Military Academy in Vilnius.

Teodor Atanasiu pays between May 3 and 5, 2006 the official visits in Lithuania and Latvia invited by his counterparts Gediminas Kirkilas and Atis Slakteris. (ends)


Romania Has Confirmed Its Contribution to NATO’s Air-Policing Mission Over the Baltic States

(Source: Lithuanian Ministry of Defence; dated May 3, web-posted May 4, 2006)

On Wednesday, 3 May the Romanian Minister of Defence Teodor Atanasiu, who is currently visiting Lithuania with an official two-day visit, during his meeting with the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Gediminas Kirkilas confirmed that Romania would contribute to an air-policing mission over the Baltic States in 2007.

During the meeting, which was held at the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence, the Ministers also discussed the on-going bilateral military co-operation between Lithuania and Romania, a security situation in South Eastern Europe, support of Ukraine, as well as of Moldova, in their aspirations to join NATO, and the involvement of the both countries in international operations. The Lithuanian Minister of National Defence invited Romania to join the mission of the Lithuanian-led Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.

Lithuania and Romania have been actively co-operating in the field of defence since 1998. Military personnel of the both countries take part in joint exercises, while military academies make an exchange of delegations. Last year Romanian military personnel attended an international exercise Amber Hope 2005 hosted by Lithuania; at the moment a Romanian military officer serves at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu, Estonia.

During his visit to Lithuania, the Romanian Minister of Defence will also visit the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Juozas Þemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania and will meet with members of the Lithuanian parliamentary Committee of Foreign Affairs.

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