DefMin Dusa reaffirms Romania's commitment to Afghanistan with troop presence beyond 2014

Minister of National Defence Mircea Dusa reaffirmed on Wednesday the Romanian Army's commitment to Afghanistan with troop presence alongside the allies beyond 2014, as part of the "Resolute Support" mission.

The statement was made at the meeting with incoming U.S. Charge d'affaires in Bucharest, Dean Thompson, and with Duane Butcher, who has so far held this office, the Ministry of National Defence said in a release to AGERPRES.

During talks, the three officials highlighted the bilateral defence cooperation based on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century between Romania and the U.S.

The Minister of National Defence thanked Duane Butcher for his contribution to the development of bilateral cooperation projects and expressed hope that the upward trend of these relations will continue during the term of the new Charge d'affaires Dean Thompson.

"In Romania you have a serious ally and partner the U.S. and the North Atlantic Alliance can always rely on," Minister Dusa told the two U.S. officials.

Another subject approached during the meeting was the enhancement of the Romanian Air Force capabilities with multirole aircraft, a project to be carried out with the support of the United States.

"The multirole aircraft that are also part of the NATO equipment are top-notch, highly performing aircraft capable of accomplishing fighter aviation specific tasks," said Dusa.

Topical issues such as the situation in the region and the priorities on the agenda of the North Atlantic Alliance in the light of the upcoming NATO Summit due in Wales this September were also on the agenda of the meeting.

As concerns the NATO Summit, the Romanian Minister pointed out that it will reinforce the goals of the...