Financiarul

President Traian Basescu on Thursday decorated the war flag of the 33rd Posada Mountaineering Battalion in Qalat, Afghanistan, as a token of recognition and commendation for high professionalism and remarkable results of Romanian troops deployed there.

‘I have come to you today because any head of state has a duty to show respect to the troops on mission, not by statements only, but also by joining them anytime he can. The high order that was bestowed on the war flag attests to my respect and the respect of Romanians to you for what you are doing,’ Basescu said on Thursday on a tour of Romanian troops deployed in Afghanistan.

Basescu pointed out that the troops in Afghanistan have a hard mission to accomplish on which the prestige of the Romanian Army depends. ‘You have a mission to protect civilised world against terrorism. You are carrying it out alongside your US and other NATO member states friends and comrades. You did not hesitate to endanger your life for the mission to be successfully accomplished,’ said Basescu.

He added that the events in Afghanistan are of great concern to the Romanian state bodies, announcing that he will soon promulgate a law that will extend to 45 years the age of voluntary troops and secure a pension that is computed by considering the time spent in the theatres of operations as double active time. ‘In addition, the new law provides for free healthcare services for life to voluntary troops.

This is a small sign of Romania’s respect for what you are doing here,’ Basescu mentioned. The President pointed out that the number of Romanian troops deployed in Afghanistan will increase to 1,800 in the months to come. He thanked the troops in the name of the Romanian people, assuring them that their heroism is placing Romania in a new light and increasing the significance of Romania’s stand within the Euro¬Atlantic bodies.

‘I strongly wish that under my second term in office things will happen as they did under my first term, when the Romanian troops deployed in Iraq reported mission accomplished,’ said Basescu. Commander Costel Ionescu said in his turn that it is an honour to the troops to have the President in their midst, pointing out that the decoration of the war flag is a reason for pride.
He remembered posthumous Second Lieutenants Aurel Marcu and Florin Badiceanu, killed in action late this February. Accompanying President Basescu on his visit to Afghanistan were Defence Minister Gabriel Oprea and Chief of Staff Gheorghe Marin.