The Acting Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca, and the chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu, talked on Wednesday, 23rd December, during a video-teleconference held at the MoND Headquarters, with the command teams of the structures deployed in the theaters of operations or assigned in foreign missions from Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Poland.

The defence minister was informed by the detachment commanders with regard to the security situation from the assigned areas of responsibility and, respectively, the way the soldiers accomplish their missions away from their country and families.

I thank you on my behalf as well as on behalf of the entire leadership team for the way you have accomplished your missions so far. In the Christmas Eve, I would like to assure you of our entire consideration for the professionalism you accomplish your assignments, your availability for effort and sacrifice and your comradeship. I am asking you to maintain the same level of vigilance and safety measures. Upon their arrival in the country, I met four of your colleagues who were injured in the theater of operations from Afghanistan, and I can tell you that they are well and are currently with their families.

I am asking you to remain vigilant and apply the same force protection measures COVID-19 throughout the holiday period, and, not the least, make sure that all forces have all necessary combat and logistic support elements. I would like you to send my salute and good thoughts to the entire personnel! Have a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca wished the soldiers assigned in foreign missions.

The chief of Defence Staff extended the message of the Romanian Armed Forces' leadership to all military personnel assigned in positions abroad, including the ones performing individual missions, under NATO, EU and UN mandate. I thank all of you for the courage and dedication you do your duty far away from the country and beloved ones. Your effort contributes to the increase of prestige of the Romanian Military among the allied and partner states. I can assure of the fact that your safety and security, no matter the deployment area, stay a priority of the national defence institution leadership. May you have peaceful holidays and I wish you A Happy New Year and a safe return home!

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In 2020, the Romanian Armed Forces participated in NATO Resolute Support mission from Afghanistan with over 1,400 soldiers, out of which approximately 240 are performing NATO, EU, UNO and OSCE mandated missions, while other 120 soldiers (pilots, technical and medical personnel) from the Carpathian Pumas Detachment concluded their mission in October, under UN mandate, in the Republic of Mali.

The Press Office