NATO

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg on Friday said that Romania's decision to raise the defence expenditure to 2 pct of the Gross Domestic Product by 2017 is an example for the other member states of the Alliance.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES FLOW

Increasing the operational compatibility between the armed forces of Bulgaria and NATO member states and partner nations has been in the focus of the one-day visit of the Deputy Chairman of NATO Military Committee, Lieutenant General Mark Schissler, in Sofia.

Turkey will host a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in the southern province of Antalya between May 13 and 14.

Turkey previously hosted meetings of NATO foreign and defense ministers in 1994 and 2010 respectively, and the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in 2004.

AGERPRES special correspondent Florentina Peia reports: President Klaus Iohannis has met on Thursday with President of the European Council Donald Tusk, this being the first official visit paid by the Romanian head of state to Brussels.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES PHOTO

The meeting will conclude without any planned press statements.

AGERPRES correspondent Florentina Peia reports: President Klaus Iohannis has arrived in Brussels on Thursday, where he will be paying an official visit until Friday.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES PHOTO

Lieutenant General Mark Schissler, Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, is to arrive in Bulgaria Wednesday.

During his visit to Bulgaria, Schissler is to meet with the Chief of Defense, Vice-Admiral Rumen Nikolov, and with Deputy Defense Minister Dimitar Kyumurdzhiev and Deputy Foreign Minister Valentin Poryazov.

British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond on Wednesday saluted Romania's commitment to increase the Defence budget, so it can reach 2 per cent of the GDP, saying that protecting the country represented the foremost duty of any government.

Photo credit: (c) MIHAI POZIUMSCHI / AGERPRES PHOTO

Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu met Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland of the United States Department of State on Wednesday. The American official thanked Romania for its significant contributions to regional, Euro-Atlantic and global peace.

Photo credit: (c) Mihai POZIUMSCHI / AGERPRES FLOW

West accused of "allowing genocide in Kosovo"

BELGRADE -- Retired Czech Lt. Col. Marek Obrtel, who recently returned the military medals he received from NATO, says that "genocide against Serbs" took place in Kosovo.

Obrtel called the western military alliance "a criminal organization" because of the policies it conducts.

By signing the agreement on the Defence sector's financing, Romania shows maturity and responsibility, on Monday said the co-president of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Alina Gorghiu, after consultations with President Klaus Iohannis, at the Cotroceni presidential Palace.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK/AGERPRES FLOW