Romania is supporting a result-oriented approach in the area of energy security, Romania's President Traian Basescu told the solemn session of the country's Parliament on Tuesday devoted to the 60th anniversary of NATO and five years of Romania's NATO membership.
"In the area of energy security, Romania is supporting a result-oriented approach that will give a fresh impetus to dialogue and initiatives in this sense, in accordance with the decisions of the Bucharest NATO Summit. We are for the promotion of the theme both at the level of political and strategic dialogue and for the development of concrete options to provide security for critical energy infrastructures and the expansion of the NATO's part in providing security for energy resources," said Basescu.
He added that Romania wants to consolidate its profile of a European ally with a transatlantic vocation."Romania has a duty to display firmness in preserving the general objective reflected by the Bucharest Declaration that focuses on the indivisibility of the NATO security, collective solidarity and providing a comprehensive architecture for a NATO anti-missile system interconnected with the US one that will cover and protect the entire allied territory," said Basescu.
The President also pointed out that the new century is marked by the persistence of some traditional threats doubled by new threats against NATO security."Ballistic missiles, cyber attacks and the interruption of energy resource flows are among the main concerns on the current NATO agenda. It is clear to us that all these issues cannot be solved by any state alone," said Basescu.
He mentioned that today's anniversary is a good opportunity to highlight the significance of Romania's accession to NATO and the part it pledged.
He mentioned that today's anniversary is a good opportunity to highlight the significance of Romania's accession to NATO and the part it pledged.
"Today, the North Atlantic Alliance is the main guarantor of Romania's security. NATO membership means to Romania more than being provided a security umbrella, and at the same time it has a strong symbolic component as well," said Basescu.He mentioned that after 1989, accession to NATO provided the Romanian central administration and political class with consistency and guidance.
He added that the merits of Romania's accession to NATO can be equally shared by all the political parties that have governed Romania.
"In fact, Romania gained additional respect because the political parties did not politicise Romania's relationship with NATO," the President added.
"In fact, Romania gained additional respect because the political parties did not politicise Romania's relationship with NATO," the President added.
Basescu pointed out that Romania is among the countries where public support for NATO has been at high levels, and an important dimension that defines its profile is its being located at the borders of the euro-Atlantic community.
"This is a posture that we want to use in order the build cooperation bridges with countries in our vicinity, as we are aware that Europe's security is tightly linked to the consolidation of democracy and stability in the regions adjacent to NATO and their European Union," said Basescu.
The President pointed out that by acceding to NATO Romania pledged to be more than a security consumer, that is to become a security provider. He mentioned to the point that by 148 troops supporting the NATO mission in Kosovo and 899 participating in the Afghanistan mission, Romania contributes to the joint efforts of NATO, and its participation in these theatres of operations entails human and financial costs.
At the same time, the President voiced gratitude to the Romanian troops carrying out their missions in active operation theatres, evoking those who lost their lives in active duty.The President said the 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit marked a very important moment as far as sketching up a strategic vision of the way in which NATO understands to pursue its objectives is concerned.
He added that the summit meeting of NATO scheduled for late this week in Strasbourg-Kehl will illustrate, thanks to the place symbolism, NATOs vocation for a reunification of Europe. Basescu said it is important that the incoming summit consolidates the place of the alliance in supporting the democratic transformations and integration with the Euro-Atlantic area.
"It is not only in the interest of Romania that there should be an area of peace and quiet at the South-Western border, but it is also in the interest of NATO and the European Union that the Western Balkans should be an area headed for democracy," said Basescu.
Loading ...
Comentează acest articol