The Defence Minister Teodor MELESCANU met the Deputy Commander, US Europe Command (USEUCOM), General William E. Ward, on April 24, 2007. General Ward also met Admiral Gheorghe MARIN, Chief, Romanian General Staff, on the same day.

The official talk agenda included mutual interest issues pertaining to the USA-Romania bilateral military cooperation as part of the NATO and Romania-USA Strategic Partnership, as well as to the enforcement of the Bilateral Agreement on the USA troop access to the Romanian military facilities.

The Minister Teodor MELESCANU stressed the enhanced military cooperation between both countries and thanked to the US official for the support offered by the USA Armed Forces to the Romanian Armed Forces in their process of transformation and interoperability enhancement with the other NATO member armed forces.

Both the Defence Minister and the Chief of the Romanian General Staff asserted the Romanian interest in taking advantage of the USA experience in the settlement of some social issues mainly regarding the social assistance programs for the soldiers who completed missions in the theatres of operations.

The officials also approached the issue of the Romanian troop presence in the theatres of operations and their further downsizing. The Romanian Defence Minister Teodor MELESCANU reasserted that this process would take place in full compliance with the country's allied commitments and on the basis of a calendar agreed with the allies.

MoD Spokesperson