Senate Chairman Nicolae Ciuca said on Wednesday that Romania is a safe country because of its armed forces and NATO, which it joined 20 years ago, adding that the country has become a source of security in the region and an essential pillar of NATO in the Black Sea.

„Romania is a safe country. Yes, that is what we are saying today because of the Romanian armed forces and because of the alliance we joined 20 years ago. This is one of the greatest achievements of Romania in recent decades. Romania has shown the whole world how a country that went through decades of communism and difficult transition managed to turn into a consolidated democracy and a reliable ally of NATO,” Ciuca told the „Romania – NATO, 20 years” event organised by the Defence Ministry.

Ciuca added that to Romania, joining NATO was „the beginning of transformation and of the effort of the entire society to become better and fairer.”

He recalled being in Iraq 20 years ago commanding an infantry battalion as part of a world coalition.

„Our country embarked on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration immediately after 1990 with tireless determination. We were the first to sign the Partnership for Peace in 1994, and when needed we did not hesitate to participate with troops in war zones alongside NATO allies.”

The Senate head added that, after joining NATO, Romania did not remain a mere beneficiary, but „became a source of security in the region, an essential pillar of the North Atlantic Alliance in the Black Sea.’

According to Ciuca, Romania was among the first NATO member states to pledge to allocate 2% of its gross domestic product to defence spending.

He added that Romania is currently at the forefront of support for Ukraine.

Ciuca said that, with NATO’s 20th anniversary, Romania is completing a stage and needs „a new country project that responds to the challenges of the present and defines the future.”

He said that Romania is today strong in NATO also due to its citizens and their support for the Alliance, adding that „the battle of these years is one of democracy and authoritarianism, between a world order based on principles and rules, on the one hand, and those who want to change it by force, on the other.”

„With the North Atlantic Alliance we are stronger today than ever, and for this I want to keep alive the memory of those who lost their lives in international missions in the last 20 years and also to thank all those who had an essential contribution to what Romania’s path in NATO meant and the existence of the 20 years since Romania has been a member of Alliance.”

Also attending the event were President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Defence Minister Angel Tilvar, political and military personalities from Romania and other NATO member states.

AGERPRES