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Wednesday, March 10, 04 George Cristian Maior State Secretary and chief of Department for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Defence Policy lectured on “The Role of the New Allies in Developing the Trans-Atlantic Cooperation” in front of 800 students and representatives of the academic environment at the National Defence University in Washington DC.
During his lecture, State Secretary Maior spoke about the added value not only political but stategic and military one that the seven invited states will bring to the Alliance.
In the same time he presented how NATO enlargement generates an important change of the political-military and security dynamics and stressed on the increase of the strategic relevance the position Romania has, having in view the increase of new risks and threats towards the international security. State Secretary Maior also stressed on the Romanian commitment to the strengthen transatlantic dialogue on security and our country’s participation to NATO transformation process.
Speaking about the preparations for the Istanbul Summit and about the future of the Alliance, George Cristian Maior pointed the important role of NATO-EU cooperation in democratization and stability of the Black Sea region as a strategic bridge between Caucasus and Central Asia.
In this context, State Secretary Maior stated:” We do have new allies joining the Euro-Atlantic family with their own geography and history, with their own understanding and knowledge of the present challenges. The new NATO members must tell their story and share the other members experience and joining to the common values and principles of the Alliance should contribute to their defence in a new environment of security”.
During the visit State Secretary Maior met with the senate of the University and signed in the honor book alongside the important personalities such as the US President George W. Bush, NATO General Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer who were the last week lecturers.
The presence of the State Secretary in the United States represents the answer to the invitation made by the NDU president Lieutenant General Michael M. Dunn to lecture during the “Program of the Distinguished Lecturers from The Academic Year 2003-04”.
The National Defence University is one of the most prestigious academic institutions from the United Sates of America with an important role in supporting the policy of the US administration by developing new strategies of policy and security at regional and global level.
Dep. for Euro-Atlantic Integration
and Defense Policy