Save Romania Union (USR) is calling Defence Minister Angel Tilvar to the Government Question Time, to ask him questions on the concrete measures taken to defend Romania’s airspace against Russian incursions.

The invitation is extended for October 8, according to a press release issued by Save Romania Union.

„Romanians deserve explanations about the Russian drones that roam unrestrained in Romanian airspace. (…) 210 days after the public request by the Chief of Defence Staff to change the legislation so that Romanian military can shoot down drones entering Romania’s airspace, the Defence Ministry has not come up with any proposal for legislative change,” the cited source says.

USR deputy leader Ionut Mosteanu underscores that the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) have the majority to change the laws, „but they prefer to let Russian drones violate Romania’s territory, while people in Tulcea and other border areas are bombarded” by RO-ALERT messages”.

Ionut Mosteanu asks the Defence minister for „urgent clarifications” on the current state of the necessary legislation and alternative measures in the absence of the law.

The leader of the USR group in the Senate, Narcis Mircescu, declares himself ‘shocked’ by the attitude of prime minister Marcel Ciolacu and believes that Defence minister Tilvar’s participation in a meeting „unexpectedly organised by the Senate Defence Committee is a simple image game”. Any violation of Romanian airspace is „an act of particular gravity”, he said.

„Russian drones flew over Romanian territory for several dozen minutes, and the only thing the head of the government could do was to shrug his shoulders and tell us that ‘that’s it’! Angel Tilvar should not go behind closed doors to the Defence Committee, he should speak in plenary, at Government Question Time, to tell Romanians what the MApN does for the defence of the country, for the protection of its citizens. For seven months, the Ministry of Defence has been complaining that it has no legislation to intervene, but the Government has other priorities, hides in meetings without stakes, does not want to come with a bill in Parliament!,” said Narcis Mircescu, according to the cited source.

Senator Cristi Berea, member of the Senate Defence Committee, considers these „provocative actions unacceptable”. USR emphasises that it will be a partner for the rapid adoption of legislation that will allow the Romanian Army to defend the airspace and protect Romanians.

„The first drones started to fall in Romania more than a year ago. Since then, we keep hearing that we have no legislation. We even have a party led by a general, but he was more concerned with promoting a book with state money than with being truly at the service of the country,” said Cristi Berea.

AGERPRES