DefMin Fifor, after passage of Patriot missile purchasing draft: We hope to close the deal on Dec. 15

Romania's Defence Minister Mihai Fifor said Tuesday after the Chamber of Deputies passed a draft agreement for the purchase by Romania of Patriot missile systems that he hopes the contract with the US Administration will be signed next week, so that the deal may close on December 15.

"I think this is a very important day to Romania. Today, Romania strengthens its defence and deterrence capabilities by acquiring a long-range defence system, and I mean the Patriot system. By the vote of the Chamber of Deputies today we can already sign the Patriot acquisition contract, a government-to-government agreement, and we hope that this bill will be promulgated very soon, so that we can sign the documents with the US Administration next week. Afterwards, the payment procedure will follow against the schedule we have set. We hope to complete this transaction by December 15," Fifor said at Parliament.

He added that the passage of the bill shows that all the promises made under the strategic partnership with the United States are being fulfilled.

"Romania is thus showing that everything it has promised under a strategic partnership with the United States and NATO members is being accomplished; Romania is are able to spend the 2-percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that the Romanian Parliament has approved in the national budget for defence. We are also prepared to continue with the acquisition of the second Patriot system next year, as well as with the acquisition [programmes approved by the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) and the Romanian Parliament," said Fifor.

He added that the bill came out in record time in Parliament.

"Today, we are reaching the goal we have set out to. The bill has passed through Parliament in a...