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| The Romanian-American Agreement |
| (2011-09-19) |
| Last updated: 2011-09-20 15:54 EET |
Romania does not have the necessary money to purchase F16 fighters, but it might get involved in such a contract, based on long term funding, says president Traian Basescu. The issue was tackled together with US officials, during last week’s visit by president Basescu to Washington.
After almost 5 years of talks on the purchase of multi-role fighters and after two years of negotiations between the Romanian authorities and the US administration, the idea of purchasing F 16 fighters comes into the spotlight in Bucharest again. Shortly after his recent visit to the US, where he held talks on this issue, president Traian Basescu told a private TV station that there is no US pressure on Romania to purchase F 16 fighters, all the more so as Romania does not have the money to do that.
Traian Basescu: ”We cannot get committed to such a contract, unless we find a long term funding solution. The US side does not exert any pressure on us to purchase F16 fighters, at any price. However, we made a pledge, when we became a NATO member state, to have a certain number of fighters, 48, which should be compatible with NATO equipment. “
The Romanian President has also said Washington has suggested a regional project, involving several NATO member states, among which Bulgaria, Croatia and maybe Hungary as well, which could make up a group to support the eastern NATO member states purchase F 16 fighters. In March 2010, Romania’s Higher Defense Council approved the purchase of 24 F-16 used fighters, worth 1.3 billion US dollars, which were supposed to arrive in Romania in 2013.
The agreement has been broken however, after Prime Minister Emil Boc announced the government didn’t have the money for the project. In another move, the priorities of the 21st Century Strategic Partnership with the US will be in the focus of attention of the Romanian authorities. They include, among other things, the installation of elements of the US anti-missile defense shield in Romania. The agreement was signed last week, during the visit paid by President Traian Basescu to Washington.
State secretary, Bogdan Aurescu, has said it is a reflection of the Romanian side’s interest and is the first bilateral legal act which mentions the existence of the Romanian-US strategic partnership.
Bogdan Aurescu: ”In any country, when national security measures are tightened, there is an indirect effect on the country’s openness. That country, its society and economy provide greater opportunities for foreign investors. Investors, not only the American ones, but also other foreign investors will tend to invest more in a country which boasts such an enhanced national security protection.”
The interceptor missiles of the shield will be placed on an air base in southern Romania and are designed to destroy enemy missile by kinetic impact.
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