The Romanian and Georgian defence ministers had an official meeting on Monday, April 6, at the Georgian Ministry of Defence when they discussed the security situation in the extended region of the Black Sea and bilateral defence cooperation.

Minister Mircea Dusa declared that there are good premises to strengthen military bilateral relations due to the mutual interests of the two countries and the common strategic position adopted in the new regional strategic context.

I wish to reiterate Romania's interest in intensifying and consolidating cooperation with Georgia, during the second mandate of Romania as Contact Point Embassy/CPE in Georgia over 2015-2016. We also endorse the consolidation of the relations between the EU and Georgia, considering that the Summit in Riga, dedicated to the Eastern Partnership, will be a landmark in developing cooperation relations, Mircea Dusa declared.

The Romanian defence minister expressed his willingness to consolidate the cooperation that started in 2013 in the field of special operation forces, with a focus on participating in common training and exercises that will contribute to increasing interoperability of Georgian and NATO forces

Minister Mircea Dusa appreciated the Georgian endeavors to implement the defence reform and pointed out that the Romanian side is willing to offer assistance in several fields, such as training, education and research.

I wish to express our support within NATO Defense Education Enhancement Program by allotting a number of places for Georgian military personnel, at the courses organized by our military education institutions, and by participating with military experts in NATO teams that conduct various defence cooperation activities with your country, minister Dusa said further.

As to the security situation in the extended Black Sea region, the two officials expressed their concern for the latest developments and reiterated the need to consolidate the relations between the two armed forces.

During his visit, Minister Mircea Dusa laid a wreath at the Monument in Heroes' Square in Tbilisi and held a moment of recollection in memory of Georgian heroes.

MoND Press Office