Defence Supreme Council to discuss national strategy, illegal forest clearing

The National Defence Supreme Council (CSAT) led by President Klaus Iohannis will discuss on Tuesday the impact of illegal forest clearing and firm measures to stop it, and the state of the programme of equipping the Air Forces with multirole aircraft.

The Council sitting will begin at 3pm on Tuesday at the Cotroceni Palace, the Presidential Administration announced.

According to the Administration, the CSAT will also hear the reports of national security institutions on 2014 and on their main objectives for 2015. Other topics are the Romanian armed forces available for missions and operations abroad in 2016; the draft of the general plan for the continued restructuring and modernization of the Army in 2015; the Army development, equipment and armament plan until 2027; the implementation of the decisions of the 2014 NATO Summit; the preparation of the June European Council on common security and defence; and the evolutions in Ukraine and their impact on the wider Black Sea region, including prolonged conflicts.

Also on table are topics regarding the Republic of Moldova in the new regional equation ? options for the European integration versus the Euro-Asian orientation; measures for the interconnection of the electricity and natural gas transmission grids between Romania and Moldova; and the management of nuclear waste from the nuclear power plant of Cernavoda.

The President will also consult on Monday the leaders of parliamentary parties and groups on the National Defence Strategy.

The last sitting of the CSAT was held early in March; it was also the first one presided by Iohannis. AGERPRES