The deputy chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Dan Ghica-Radu, signed the Joint Declaration of the deputy chiefs of staff within the regional initiative South-East Defence Ministerial (SEDM), in Sofia, on 27 June.
According to the document, the deputy chiefs of staff consider that the strategic review of SEDM is a unique opportunity to revive and improve SEDM goals, as well as its ties with NATO, EU, UN and other regional initiatives.
"Cooperation with international organizations has to be improved by encouraging SEDM's active involvement in global or regional initiatives where SEDM can play a significant role. From this perspective, it is to be desired that any SEDM project should avoid duplicating existing initiatives and contribute to really increasing SEEBRIG's operational capability", the Joint Declaration read.
The reunion in Bulgaria's capital city brought together military representatives of SEDM member countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, FYROM, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, the USA, Turkey and Ukraine). The Republic of Moldova and Georgia participate as observers. The representatives of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples and Brunssum respectively, representatives of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), of the Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Centre (RACVIAC), a regional initiative recognized internationally by the main actors of the European defence system, were present at the event.
At present, SEDM chairmanship is ensured by Italy, that will be followed by Romania in 2013.

MoND Press Office