Minister of Defense, Sorin Frunzaverde, the chief of the General Staff, Admiral Gheorghe Marin and the Presidential Adviser for Defense and National Security, retired Lieutenant General Sergiu Medar participated Friday, January 26, in the ceremony of the Captain Stefan Soverth 495th Infantry Battalion's leaving in the IRAQI FREEDOM mission.

The Minister of Defense wished good luck to the 395 military leaving in mission and expressed his believe in them for showing the Romanian army's professionalism and respect and kindhearted in their relations with the local population.

The Presidential Adviser Sergiu Medar underlined the necessity for the Romanian soldiers to prove respect and tact in their relations with the local people in the area of action in Iraq and transmitted them the wishes of the President of Romania, Traian Basescu, of good luck for the fulfillment of their mission and their safety return home.

Minister Sorin Frunzaverde talked with the military leaving in Iraq and their relatives and expressed his believe in their safety return home in summer.

The 495th Infantry Battalion Captain Stefan Soverth will replace the 811th Infantry Battalion Dragonii Transilvani from Dej in mission in the theater of operation in Iraq since August 2006. The Romanian military are acting within the Multinational Division South East, under the British command and they are deployed in Tallil.

MoD Spokesperson