PM Ponta meets US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel

Prime minister, Victor Ponta has met the US Secretary of Defence, Chuck Hagel during his working visit in Washington, a release sent Agerpres by the Romanian Government on Thursday morning, reads.

Foto: (c) GARY CAMERON/ REUTERS

During the meeting at the Pentagon, "the constant preoccupation of the Romanian Government was restated for the strengthening of the bilateral cooperation in Defence, as a pillar of the Strategic Partnership between Romanian and the United States of America," also highlighting "the ample support in Romania for the consolidation of the US, NATO staff's presence in our country."

"Romania's contribution to the international operations, in Afghanistan in particular, and the excellent bilateral collaboration in these operations, were appreciated," the source adds.

The two officials also tackled the regional evolutions in Eastern Europe, and in this context the Romanian Prime minister reiterated Romania's strong position regarding the Russian Federation's actions in Ukraine.

Victor Ponta underlined "the crucial importance of the solidarity of all the EU, NATO member states as against the East European challenges."AGERPRES