http://www.reporter.gr/fulltext_eng.cfm?id=51208121649 Reporter.gk (Greece) December 8, 2005 American military bases in Romania and what they stand for [Excerpts] -The Romanian [president] said that the agreement proves the existent security connection between Bucharest and Washington, Romanians receiving additional security now, besides the Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. -These facilities will also be open to the conduct of wargames under the NATO/Partnership for Peace aegis, being aimed at boosting military regional cooperation. -Rice said in turn that Romania is one of the best allies and friends of the US, and she is delighted to sign this historical agreement. This is the first such agreement concluded by the US with former East European communist countries. -By signing this agreement, Romania actually became the eastern border of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO). Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during her visit to Bucharest signed with Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu the so-called access agreement. The agreement establishes the framework for the deployment of American military bases on Romanian territory. It is the first deal of this kind between the US and an Eastern-European country. By signing this agreement, Romania actually became the eastern border of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO). During the visit to Bucharest, Ms. Rice described Romania as one of USs best allies. She also mentioned that the two countries share common values. The so-called allowance deal, establishing the framework for the deployment of American military bases on Romanian land was signed after months of negociations. This deal, President Basescu stated, places Romania in the circuit of global security and refers to the following locations : the Kogalniceau air-base, the Babadag training base, the Cincu training base and the Smardan training base. "The zones and training bases are destined to all weapons," the President stated. Mr. Basescu said, in Romanias opinion, American military facilities deployment in our countriy is a confirmation of the fact that "the Romanian army reached the potential to be US partner, all proportions taken, and the other security structures in Romania could cooperate at the highest level with their counterparts in the US." .... Why Romania ? When asked why Romania was chosen for the redeployment of US military facilities, Ms. Rice said "We have a stronger relation with Romania from a military point of view. We have good relations with Bulgaria, but President Bush and Basescu discussed about this deal. "There is the geographical position as well. Moreover, in all activities we had with Romania, this country has engaged itself to transform the army, to technologise it, to consolidate military capacity. This is a recognition on our side of the fact that our relations are strong," the American Secretary of State mentioned. "I am delighted to sign this historic agreement » Condoleezza Rice concluded. "It is remarkable the fact that, 16 years after the fall of communism, here in Romania period during which Romania has become a strong partner within the NATO we are here to sign an agreement allowing America to deploy troops on Romanian territory, Ms. Rice stated. Reactions from Moscow Moscow was not late in reacting. Russia requires more details about the number of bases in Romania, and the number of military to be hosted, Interfax reports. The Russian Defence Minister Serghei Ivanov considered the American deployment in Romania as coming under the force of treaties regarding conventional weapons in Europe, document signed by several countries, but ratified only by four, among which Russia as well. Ivanov warned that his country would take the necessary measures in case some countries were proven to have broken the treaty. .... The Romanian [president] said that the agreement proves the existent security connection between Bucharest and Washington, Romanians receiving additional security now, besides the Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. Details of facilities made available to U.S. troops to be stationed in Romania The Access Agreement signed by Romania and the United States here on Tuesday on the activities of the American forces stationed on the Romanian territory assigns four locations for the U.S. troops, namely the army ranges at Cincu, Smardan and Babadag as well as the Mihail Kogalniceanu airfield. The Cincu range is located in the central Sibiu and Brasov counties, it covers 104 sq km, at a height between 400 and 700 meters. The annual average temperatures are 7-8 degrees Celsius; the location benefits from nearly 100 km of roads. The Cincu range is authorised for carrying out tactical applications involving firing live ammunition by infantry companies and battalions, artillery battery and division. Shootings can also be made from all types of launchers and by aviation as well as by helicopters as tests conducted by the plants manufacturing weapons and ammunition. The Cincu army range is located near the Cincu village, 25 km east of the town of Fagaras and 13 km from Voila village, which hosts the nearest railway station where the military hardware carried by train can be loaded or unloaded. The Smardan army range, also dubbed "Malina", is located in the eastern Galati county and it covers 8,500 hectares; it can accommodate 600 persons. The Smardan range is homologated for training shooting by infantry and tanks, artillery groups, special shooting from heavy infantry weapons, training for launching offensive and defensive grenades, shooting from the chemical troops' weapons, shooting at ground targets from helicopters and planes, bombing from MIG-21 LanceR warplanes by diving and horizontal bombing from warplanes IAR-99, MIG-21 and IL 28. The Babadag range is located in the eastern Tulcea county, it covers 2,700 hectares and it can accommodate 250 persons. It can host live ammunition shooting by infantry and tank companies, by artillery sub-units, special shooting from heavy infantry weapons, launching of offensive and defensive grenades, shooting at ground targets from helicopter- and plane weapons. The Mihail Kogalniceanu airfield is 3,500 meters long and 45 meters wide and it has a concrete runway. The has the required facilities for the flight management and administrative management, buildings for the personnel accommodation and offices, hangars for airplanes and warehouses. The commanders of the future bases or training areas to be made available to the United States will be Romanian officers, the Romanian National Defence Ministry said The ministry is also the national authority assigned as an interface between the American forces and the Romanian authorities, according to the agreement. "We are not speaking of American bases in the classical sense, but rather about an American presence in the Romanian military facilities," the ministry said. These facilities will also be open to the conduct of wargames under the NATO/Partnership for Peace aegis, being aimed at boosting military regional cooperation. The Access Agreement is a mainly political document settling the overall framework for the conduct - at a political, military, financial, logistic and judicial level - of the activity of the U.S. forces to be stationed in Romania; the document establishes the inter-operation framework and the mutual obligations of the two sides in enforcing the document's provisions, the defence ministry stressed. Sources of the ministry confirmed that the U.S. troops might be stationed in the Mihail Kogalniceanu and Babadag military bases of Constana southeastern county and use the shooting grounds of Smardan (Galati eastern county) and Cincu (Brasov central county) for training. According to the Agreement regulating the activity of U.S. forces stationed in Romania, the Romanian Ministry of National Defence has the national authority of connector between the Romanian and U.S. forces. "These are not classical U.S. bases, but a military presence in the Romanian military facilities," the source mentions. These facilities will be used for NATO/PfP exercises for the development of military regional cooperation. American troops to train in Romania >From Romania's point of view, the setting up of American military facilities on her soil confirms that the Romanian Army has reached the potentials where it can be a partner to the United States, President Basescu said at the end of his meeting with the US secretary of state. He also said the signing in Bucharest of the military access agreement is placing Romania in the global security circuit and, after Romania's Parliament has validated the document, Romania will be a pillar for regional stability. Rice said in turn that Romania is one of the best allies and friends of the US, and she is delighted to sign this historical agreement. This is the first such agreement concluded by the US with former East European communist countries. Rice also expressed thanks to the Romanian authorities for their efforts to make this Romanian-American project come true. She mentioned that the last time she was in Bucharest, she was here with President Bush when he gave a speech in a public square; that it was a cold and gray and rainy day which suddenly became a day with a rainbow. Rice also thanked the Romanian people for their sacrifice and to the families of Romanian soldiers who are serving with American troops in difficult and dangerous places. The presence of American troops on Romania's soil is regulated in accordance with Romanian legislation, under an agreement of October 30, 2001 between Romania and the US regarding the status of American troops on Romania's soil as well as under the SOFA agreement between NATO member states. The military access agreement is of political and public nature, whereas the military, logistics and financial aspects of the matter will be arranged later on. By signing this agreement, Romania actually became the eastern border of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO). Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
