National Defence minister Angel Tilvar said on Thursday in central Targu Mures, during the ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Romanian Special Operations Forces, that this structure of the Romanian Army means strength, determination and complex missions, according to Agerpres.

„Twenty years after the establishment of the first structure of the Special Operations Forces, here in Targu Mures, we are proud that Romania is in a small and select company, a company of countries that have structures with the level of training and equipment, with state-of-the-art technology, such as the Romanian Army Special Operations Forces Command,” said Minister Angel Tilvar.

According to the minister, the military of this command are respected among NATO armies and he often receives thanks from partners for the way Romanian soldiers carry out their missions.

„I am telling you this because in the meetings and contacts I have with my allied counterparts or with leaders of NATO’s strategic structures, I receive thanks and appreciation for the missions performed impeccably by the Romanian military in theatres of operations, and with regard to the Special Operations Forces, they show up almost every time in the discussion. I am glad to be able to share with you the pride I feel when your accomplishments achieved with hard work, rigour and a lot of sacrifices are appreciated and acknowledged, and I, in turn, offer you my sincere thanks for all you do for our peace and security,” Tilvar stressed.

In its 20 years of existence, the Minister of Defence said, the Special Operations Forces have also paid a painful tribute in blood.

Agerpres