Minister Sorin Frunzaverde had two interventions on NATO Operations issue during the working session, occurred Thursday, February 8, during the Ministers of Defense Informal Reunion, in Seville.

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo province, the Romanian Minister of Defense stated that the year 2007 is a point of reference for the Balkans' durable, long term development in the new context created by the suggestions on this province status. In this respect, he appreciated as necessary the establishment of an effective mechanism of cooperation between NATO and the European Union.

The Romanian Minister of Defense considers that the success of a NATO plan for the Balkans must start with the establishment of a clear way for the partnership for Serbia and the international presence in Kososvo province must be adopted at an optimum level so that it could had a rapid reaction to any possible risk towards stability in the region.

As for the NATO operations in Afghanistan, Minister Sorin Frunzaverde underlined that the international actors should better cooperate for the support of the Afghani authorities for the implementation of a coherent policy for the improvement of the level of security and the life standard in this country.

The state of security in Afghanistan and the Romanian participation in the international efforts of stabilization in this country also were the topics the Romanian Minister of Defense approached during the bilateral meetings, Thursday, in Seville with his Afghani counterpart, Abdul Rahim Wardak.

This occasion, they reiterated the entire support our country is determined further to grant to the Afghani government for the consolidation of the democratic institutions and the implementation of a lasting stability and reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Afghani Minister of Defense appreciated the special contribution the Romanian military have in stabilization of his country and expressed his interest for the continuation and strengthening of the bilateral relations with Romania.

Minister Sorin Frunzaverde is participating with the official delegation in the Ministers of Defense Informal Reunion developed in Seville between February 8 and 9, 2007.

MoD Spokesperson