George Cristian Maior State Secretary and chief of Department for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Defense Policy participated Monday July 7, 03 to General Tommy R. Franks' retreat ceremony and USCENTCOM command handing over to General John P. Abizaid.

State Secretary Maior during the reception preceding the command receiving-handing over ceremony thanked General Tommy R. Franks for the consistent support granted to the Romanian soldiers in the difficult missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. At his turn, General Franks expressed his satisfaction for Romania's contribution to these operations as the allied of the United States of America.

George Cristian Maior congratulated General John P. Abizaid, the new commander of USCENTCOM and mentioned the engagement of our country in further support of the stabilization force in Iraq.

Political personalities and US military commanders, ministers of Defense, chiefs of General Staffs and ambassadors in Washington of the partner states participated together with State Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to this event organized at ''Saint Pete Arena'', Tampa, Florida

Dep. for Euro-Atlantic Integration
and Defense Policy