DefMin Fifor, Supreme Allied Commander Europe Scaparrotti discuss NATO agenda topics

National Defence Minister Mihai Fifor on Wednesday had a meeting with Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, General Curtis Scaparrotti, to discuss topical matters on the NATO agenda, reads a National Defence Ministry (MApN) release.

According to the release, the discussions carried out in Bucharest focused on topical matters on the NATO agenda, "with a focus on the current allied efforts in the direction of defence and deterrence, the NATO Command Structure reform and stability projection, including in the perspective of the NATO Summit in Brussels to take place in July."

"The Romanian Defence Minister voiced appreciation for SHAPE's constant support in implementing the measures corresponding to the advanced presence dedicated to the south-east of the allied territory, underscoring the maturity level reached by the South-East Multinational Brigade, as well as the allies' contributions in implementing this presence," the release shows.

Moreover, there was underlined Romania's observing the commitment to allot 2 percent of the GDP to the defence sector and the solid political support for keeping this commitment on a long term.

"In the stability projection area, Minister Fifor voiced our country's support on the same coordinates as so far, among which: keeping Romania's contribution to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan; support for the stabilisation of Iraq through Romania's participation in the anti-DAESH Global Coalition; keeping the omnidirectional approach in granting allied support both to eastern and to southern partners," the MApN release also shows.

In his turn, Scaparrotti thanked Romania for the significant contribution in respect to international security, through its constant and determined participation in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, as well as in the KFOR mission in Kosovo.

Moreover, General Curtis Scaparrotti appreciated Romania's efforts in terms of fair burden sharing within the Alliance and hailed Romania's earmarking to the defence sector starting 2017 the optimum percentage agreed within NATO.

"In respect to the expectations for the July Summit, the two speakers agreed that the main message will aim at reconfirming the allies' unity and solidarity in managing the current security challenges," the release also mentions. AGERPRES (RO - author: Cristian Lupascu, editor: Georgiana Tanasescu; EN - author: Adina Panaitescu, editor: Rodica State)