Romania’s Gendarmerie force represents „a mainstay” for public safety and order, acting President Ilie Bolojan declared on Thursday, as he attended the decoration ceremony for the battle flags of several Gendarmerie structures.

„Today we celebrate 175 years since the founding of the Romanian Gendarmerie, a mainstay for public safety and order,” Bolojan told the event held at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior, calling also on representatives of this institution to continue to do their duty under full compliance with the law.

He thanked the gendarmes for their efficiency in handling the challenges of these years, protecting citizen rights and freedoms.

„We owe gratitude to the gendarmes who did their duty in high-risk situations,” said Bolojan, who also stressed that in order to develop, a society needs stability, efficient public services and security.

„If we have progressed in these years, it is also due to the Romanian Gendarmerie’s important contribution to the safety of communities, to maintaining order and social balance, particularly in difficult times,” the acting president argued.

Ilie Bolojan also thanked the gendarmes for their participation in international missions, pointing out that they have demonstrated professionalism and have represented Romania with honor, „earning the appreciation of Romania’s partners.”

He stressed that the authority of an institution is given, first and foremost, by the quality of its employees, and that „the Romanian Gendarmerie’s power to do good comes from the discipline, integrity and responsibility of each gendarme. Those of us who hold public office, but also the civil society, must not let the individual mistakes or errors of some leaders of the institution to affect and compromise the commitment of thousands of gendarmes in the service of the country, so that when an honest citizen sees a Gendarmerie uniform, they see a point of support that conveys th sentiment of safety, order and responsibility.”

Ilie Bolojan mentioned that this spring marks 20 years since he has been working with the Gendarmerie, in his former capacity as local government head.

„In all these years, as a public administrator, I have understood one thing: the Gendarmerie is an institution you can rely on in difficult situations. Therefore, I assure you of all my respect,” Bolojan added.

On the occasion of Romanian Gendarmerie Day, in recognition of the achievements of this force, the acting president accepted the proposal of the Minister of the Interior and signed the decrees for the decoration with the Valor and Faith National Order with peace insignia for the military in the rank of Commander of the battle flag of the Romanian Gendarmerie, and with the Valor and Faith National Order with peace insignia for the military in the rank of Knight of the battle flags of two mobile gendarmerie units, as well as of the battle flags of nine county Gendarmerie inspectorates.

„We appreciate the courage, solidarity and devotion that you show every day, in each intervention or mission, in order to make Romania safer. Keep on doing your duty in compliance with the law, because through fairness, citizens gain more trust in institutions. I am convinced that you will further live up to the responsibilities that fall to you. Many happy returns to all gendarmes! May God protect Romania!,” the acting head of the state said.

AGERPRES