The Defense Minister, Teodor Melescau participated today, November 8, at the 71st Ai r Base General Emanoil Ionescu from Campia Turzii in the Romanian military return ceremony that for three months participated in the Air Police Service in Lithuania.

Addressing to the 67 aviators from the BALTICA 07 Detachment, Minister Melescanu wished Welcome home! and congratulated them for the exemplarily way they performed their mission. The Air Police Service in the Baltic States marked a new premiere in the history of the Romanian Air Force participation in NATO led operations after KAIA mission in Afghanistan.

You, the representatives of the Romanian Air Force and Armed Forces fulfilled the mission according to the engagements Romania assumed within the North Atlantic Alliance stated the Defense Minister.

Minister Melescanu, in his speech, also approached the military significance and the image the Romanian aviators made among the locals in the Lithuanian town, Siaulial: You succeeded by your competence to gain the NATO and Lithuanian officials' appreciation, your colleagues from other states participating in mission and the appreciation of the local authorities. I do appreciate you have, between the missions, the time to visit schools, hostels and orphanages and cherish the children and the locals. These are important humanitarian gestures that impress and define the Romanian military behavior in international mission.

At the end of ceremony, Minister Melescanu invited the assistance to have a moment of silence in the memory of the military crew lost in the aircraft accident in November 7, in the after-noon. Teodor Melescanu stated that the MoD will do all that is human possible to comfort the relatives of the lost military and to help them in these tragic moment.

MoD Press Office