Ionut Mosteanu announced he is resigning from his position as minister of National Defence.
‘I submitted my resignation today from the position of minister of National Defence. I have spoken with the president, the prime minister, the party leader and some of my USR [Save Romania Union] colleagues and I thank them for their support and trust. I am taking this step with responsibility and out of respect for the Romanian Army. Romania and Europe are under assault from Russia. Our national security must be defended at any cost. I do not want the discussions about my education and the mistakes I made many years ago to distract those who are now leading the country from their difficult mission,’ Mosteanu wrote on his Facebook page on Friday.
He thanks his colleagues for the work they have done over the past five months. He also stresses that during his five month mandate he honoured the oath he took with his hand on the Bible.
‘I swore to devote all my strength and skill to ensuring that we have an Army that is well equipped, better motivated and better provided for. And I have done this every day, strengthening relations with our allies, monitoring and accelerating procurement programmes, sending a clear message against the vested interests of certain individuals in the area, improving the legal framework, defending the rights of those who serve the country. Thank you for your trust, for your messages and for your patience. I also thank my family for their unconditional support during these months, without which it would have been impossible for me to carry out my mandate,’ Mosteanu writes.
The USR representative adds that he has taken this step ‘with the full conscience of someone who loves the country” he serves.
‘And a thought about the future – Romania is caught between those who have captured it and are plugged into public money and those who want to burn it down and divert it from its pro European and Euro Atlantic path. In the middle are a few good people, good not perfect, who maintain balance and the right direction, Nicusor Dan, Ilie Bolojan, and our colleagues in USR, often with huge sacrifices. They deserve our continued support and trust, perhaps even more than before. May God protect Romania,’ Ionut Mosteanu said. AGERPRES
