Minister Fifor emphasises in Washington Romania's efforts to enhance NATO Eastern Flank's security

National Defence Minister Mihai Fifor on Tuesday stressed in Washington, D. C., the efforts made by Romania for the enhancement of the North Atlantic Alliance's Eastern Flank's security, as well as the commitment to answer the principle of fairly sharing the roles, risks and responsibilities within NATO, a release sent to AGERPRES by the National Defence Ministry (MApN) reads. 

Minister Fifor participated in a round table organized by the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., that brought together Heritage experts, representatives of the US Congress and Administration, alongside noted specialists in international security. 

"I have stressed on the security challenges in the Black Sea region, from the perspective of this region's strategic importance included, a fact confirmed by the NATO Summit decisions this July. Moreover, I have emphasized the efforts made by Romania on the Alliance's Eastern Flank consolidation line, as well as our country's commitment to answer the principle of fairly sharing the roles, the risks and responsibilities within NATO," Minister Fifor said at the end of the talks. 

The National Defence minister also had a series of meetings with the representatives of Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, at their seats in Washington, D.C. 

The talks with the US companies' officials focused mainly on the cooperation opportunities in the defence industry. 

On this occasion, Minister Fifor reiterated the Romanian gov't's intention that the unfolding of all the national programmes of strategic procurement be carried out on conditions of industrial cooperation in defence and technology and know-how transfer in the Romanian defence industry. 

Mihai Fifor added that in the context of the 2pct allocation of the gross domestic product for Defence for at least 10 years starting with 2017, Romania has kicked off a procurement programme to answer the needs of increasing the national defence capabilities and contribute to the enhancement of the status of our country as ally and credible, solid partner in the Black Sea region. 

The Romanian official was accompanied by the secretary of state for weaponry Andrei Ignat and the Chief of the General Staff, General Nicolae Ciuca.