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Bucharest, April 3 /Agerpres/ - Foreign Affairs Minister Cristian Diaconescu said in an interview with Agerpres that Romania wants NATO on its 60th anniversary to show the image of a solid organization, of one that is relevant to the security of the Euro-Atlantic space, an organization that has available efficient means to counter the challenges facing the current security climate. 'Romania's major interest in the decision-making substance of the NATO Summit is related to the promotion of an enhanced role of the Alliance in relation to the areas neighbouring our country, namely the Western Balkans and the expanded Black Sea region', Diaconescu said. He underscored Romania will back a NATO approach to the Euro-Atlantic security based on a more pronounced regional dimension. 'We believe the Alliance can render more support, alongside the European Union, to carrying out the potential for development and cooperation of the regional complex made up from the Black Sea - Caspian Sea - Central Asia by promoting the political dialogue, supporting the regional cooperation and supporting the development of the institutional and security capabilities, also as regards the energy infrastructure security', he pointed out. Diaconescu spoke of the Romanian mandate at the NATO Summit and explained Romania will back an enhanced involvement of the Alliance in the implementation of the decisions made at the allied level at the NATO Summit held in Bucharest and at the meeting of the NATO foreign ministers held in Dec. 2008 with respect to Georgia and Ukraine; Romania will also back a more open attitude and increased commitment towards Serbia. 'We'll support the continuation of the Alliance's military transformation process in order to provide efficient collective defence by well-trained forces and by adequate capabilities aimed at their projection. At the 2009 Summit, Romania wants a future-oriented evaluation to be presented, that should include options and recommendations for the improvement of NATO's role on energy security', Diaconescu said. The foreign minister pointed out that NATO remains the main source of providing security for Romania and this is the reason why Romania seeks to strengthen its role within this military alliance, by also making a useful contribution to outlining NATO's new strategic concept. 'The goal of strengthening our position in the Alliance is completed by the continued participation of Romania in the efforts for the stabilization and reconstruction of Afghanistan', he stressed. The North Atlantic Alliance's anniversary summit, which marks 60 years since the organization was established, begins on Friday in Strasbourg and Kehl. The heads of the NATO member states will mark the event in places symbolizing the French-German reconciliation, i.e. in Strasbourg, France and in Kehl and Baden-Baden, Germany. The agenda of the summit includes events meant to celebrate six decades of the Alliance's existence, the acceptance of Croatia and Albania to the NATO family table as member states and the welcoming of France to the Military Planning Committee after four decades' absence; furthermore, the NATO leaders on April 3 and 4 will seek to adopt clear measures for the future action and functioning of the North Atlantic Alliance.
Romania
became a full member of the Alliance on March 29, 2004
together with another six states (Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia). The number of the
Alliance members thus went up to 26, with this being the
most significant expansion of the organization.
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