Islamabad: 25 Oct 2024 – The Embassy of Romania hosted a magnificent reception on the occasion of the Day of the Romanian Armed Forces. Historically, the 25th of October symbolizes the day in which the entire Romanian territory was liberated by the Romanian Army during the Second World War.
Mr. and Mrs. Eduard Robert PREDA ,Charge d Affaires and Mr. and Mrs. Col. Cristian RODUCU,the Defence Attache and the staff of the Embassy welcomed the guests at the reception hosted at Marriott Hotel Islamabad.
Major General Kashif Zafar of Pakistan Army was chief guest while other uniform officers were also present representing all wings of armed forces of Pakistan.
Mr. Eduard Robert PREDA in his welcome address ,shared brief history of the day and also spoke highly on bilateral relations and cooperation with Pakistan. He said, Each year, on October 25th, Romania celebrates the Day of the Romanian Armed Forces and this event is focused on respecting fallen heroes, having a special meaning for all Romanians.
Today, the Romanian Armed Forces, completely reformed and modernized up to the NATO standards, are assigned to foreign missions, contributing alongside with the allied and partner armies to the common effort of keeping peace and stability worldwide.
As a reliable NATO member state, Romania’s main objective has always been related to building trust and good relationships with other states.
He noted , today’s world is more multilateral than ever, reflecting that nations have the right to be sovereign and decide for themselves. Romania stands ready to continue to be a responsible partner and ally to strengthen security in the Black Sea area and fulfill all its responsibilities as a reliable member of the international community. We now stand ready to commit once more to the process of creating a safe, stable, and prosperous world for all of us.
Mr. PREDA, speaking on security situation in Romania’s region said ,It is complex and continuously changing, marked by geopolitical and military challenges. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally and long-term altered the security paradigm in Europe.
In the current security status, Romania remains a strong, committed, and responsible ally, a relevant provider of security and stability in the Black Sea region and beyond. As the allied state with the longest border with Ukraine, Romania has been at the forefront of the efforts to ensure the decisions and necessary measures for strengthening the collective deterrence and defence posture in the area, he shared.
The challenges we have to deal with every day, along with the war going on at NATO, EU and Romanian borders, prove that we need, more than ever, to be ready to defend our common values and freedoms and grant security and stability in the region.
“Ukraine’s security means European and Euro-Atlantic security and Romania stands in full solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine in their heroic defence of their country, helping Ukraine to uphold its fundamental right to self-defence as a response to the Russian Federation’s full-scale, unprovoked and unlawful invasion of Ukraine, he continued.
Regarding the Allied support for Ukraine, he said, we welcome the agreement on a package of decisions that strengthens this effort and advances Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration. Key developments include the launch of the NATO Security Assistance and Training Mission for Ukraine, a long-term financial support commitment for 2025, ensuring continued military assistance, and fair burden-sharing among Allies.
Furthermore, the most recent NATO Summit Declaration acknowledges the irreversible path of Ukraine to becoming a NATO member. Romania is deeply involved in training Ukrainian soldiers, as part of EUMAM and INTERFLEX missions, and we will continue our coordination with the Ukrainian partner to identify more training possibilities, based on their needs.
60th Anniversary of Establishing Diplomatic Relations between Pakistan and Romania
The Charge d’ Affaires noted, the establishment of the F-16 Training Center in Romania in record time required a lot of effort, dedication, and energy. Also, we are very satisfied to see so many Allies and partners interested in taking part in this project. It is a standing proof of what the NATO allies can accomplish together in supporting Ukraine. The F-16 Training Center is now fully operational and Ukrainian pilots are currently participate in training programs.
“Unfortunately, we are witnessing the multiple security challenges that another neighbour of Romania, the Republic of Moldova, is facing, including destabilization attempts, as part of Russia’s hybrid actions against their European neighbours, he added.
Moldova is a part of the European family, and we firmly support its European path. We welcome that in May 2024, the Republic of Moldova became the first country to sign a Security and Defence Partnership with the EU.
Furthermore, the financial support provided through the European Peace Facility is essential for modernization of Moldova’s Armed Forces. It is therefore crucial for the EU to continue comprehensive support for the security, stability and resilience of the Republic of Moldova.
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