Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Wednesday said that Romania is irreversibly anchored in the Euro-Atlantic community and represents, in its turn, a „strategic anchor” of NATO on the eastern flank.

„Today, Romania is irreversibly anchored in the Euro-Atlantic community and represents, in its turn, a strategic anchor of NATO on the eastern flank. Romania remains a mature and credible ally, with a pro-active attitude and able to act sustainably to achieve its own objectives and protect NATO values,” Ciolacu told „ROMANIA – NATO 20 years” event hosted by the Palace of the Military Hall in Bucharest.

According to the prime minister, joining NATO meant Romania’s return to the community of Western values and democratic principles.

„20 years ago, Romania joined the North Atlantic Alliance in the most significant enlargement in NATO’s history. To our country, the historical nature of the moment goes beyond the number of new members admitted in 2004. In fact, it signified Romania’s return to the community of Western values and democratic principles, an indispensable step for the country’s security and development. Integration with Euro-Atlantic bodies was a strategic objective of foreign policy and security supported by the entire society and political class. That country project has become the foundation of a democratic and prosperous Romania, able to provide its citizens with the strongest security guarantees in our entire history. (…) The threats and challenges we face together are increasingly different and complex. It is important that, in a volatile regional and global context, the commitment of the allies to protect the values of this space and to defend each other is unwavering.”

He added that Romania continues to respect its commitment to unequivocal support for Ukraine.

„Our responsibility to ensure the security of Romanian citizens and to protect NATO’s values is supported by our status as a reliable ally and defender of the eastern flank. The Black Sea, an area of strategic importance to NATO, is the centre of gravity of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and instability in the area profoundly affects Euro-Atlantic security. Against this background, Romania continues to respect its commitment to unequivocally supporting Ukraine, and also vulnerable NATO partners such as Moldova and Georgia, which have chosen to adhere to the Euro-Atlantic value system.”

The event „ROMANIA – NATO, 20 years”, organised by the Defence Ministry was attended by President Klaus Iohannis, Senate Chairman Nicolae Ciuca, Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu, political and military personalities from the country and other NATO member states.

AGERPRES