The Navy Staff organized a meeting for the presentation of its annual report, on Thursday, January 14, on 2009; the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Gabriel Oprea, the State Secretary of Defence Policy and Planning, Mr. Viorel Oancea and the chief of General Staff, Admiral Gheorghe Marin, Ph.D. attended the meeting as well.
Minister Gabriel Oprea appreciated the efforts the Navy personnel made to increase their contribution to the commitments Romania assumed towards NATO and the EU, and the regional initiatives.
"The achievement of the present standards in operations, interoperability and compatibility in missions together with our allies and partners was a complex and huge endeavour as well as an effort that our troops assumed with responsibility and professionalism. These are special achievements that increased our status as an active supplier of security within the Alliance. The Navy, represented by the military ships that accomplished their missions crossing the seas and the oceans of the world and by the detachments of Marine Infantry that acted in the Western Balkans TO, played an important role for Romania's image" the Minister of National Defence said.

Speaking about the Navy, Admiral Gheorghe Marin stated that most of their missions were accomplished, but there still are aspects that could be improved. "Navy troops accomplished their tasks and missions. By a rigorous planning, the Navy achieved the commitments they assumed within NATO and the regional initiative in the Black Sea, participating with personnel and equipment in the TOs in Kosovo, in "Active Endeavour" in the Mediterranean Sea and the "Blackseafor" and "Blacksea Partnership" regional exercises". I am sure you will continue the work of rendering structures operational and you will continue to stay involved in managing the security environment of the Black Sea region" stated Admiral Marin. The chief of the Navy Staff, Rear-

The chief of the Navy Staff, Rear Admiral Dorin Danila, emphasized the efforts of the personnel made to achieve the established goals during a difficult year.
The chief of the Navy Staff highlighted the troops' activity to ensure the maritime transportation of over 4,500 tons of materials from Iraq when the Romanian troops withdrew from this theater of operations.
Last year, the Navy troops had over 1,000 days of training at sea and river waters and over 580 flight hours on Puma Naval helicopters. Chiefs of other services, generals and officers from the General Staff and MoND structures, commanders of the Navy units and big units participated in the meeting as well.

MoND Press Office