Deveselu

Today's conference titled Romania and NATO's Ballistic Missile Defense System - a Transatlantic Strategic Contribution to Euro-Atlantic Security was a "particularly important" moment, marking five years since the becoming operational of the Deveselu-based missile defense facility that represents a Romanian-American contribution to NATO's collective defense, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said

The Middle East crisis has confirmed the Deveselu-based missile defence system is "well integrated with NATO and functions perfectly," Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu said on Wednesday. He participated in the joint meeting of the committees for foreign affairs and defence of the Senate, alongside Minister of Defence Nicolae Ciuca.

The US has deployed the anti-ballistic missile THAAD system at the military base of Deveselu in southern Romania.

It is the first time that this advanced anti-ballistic missile system has been deployed anywhere in Europe under NATO command.

Romania is suing a local shepherd who interferes with the work of US military deployed at a military base near the southern city of Deveselu, wrote the electronic edition of Balkan Insight.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Wednesday that the anti-missile system which is to be installed at the Deveselu military base in southern Romania does not violate the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, as Russia has claimed.

Ponta argued that there was no violation of the treaty "because the anti-missile system is a defence system".

The works at the Deveselu missile defence base are advancing as planned; the military facility will be operational this autumn, Defence Minister Mircea Dusa said on Tuesday during a visit to the Olt County.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

"The anti-missile system is only for self-defence, as defined by the UN charter, and has nothing to do with Russia," Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Saturday.

Aurescu was commenting after Russia's ambassador to Denmark, Mikhail Vanin, warned the Scandinavian country not to join the NATO missile defence system.