Meetings of the MoND leadership with the Chairman of the Joint Staffs Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Minister of National Defence Nicolae-Ionel Ciucã and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu, met on Tuesday, the 24th August, at the MoND headquarters, with the Chairman of the Joint Staffs Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, General Nadeem Raza.

During the talks, the officials emphasized the importance of consolidating the military relations, considering Romania’s NATO and EU membership as well as Pakistan’s status as a connection country between Central Asia and South-Eastern Asia and the reciprocal support that both countries traditionally offer each other within the UNO and other international organizations.

Defence Minister thanked General Raza for the substantial support offered in the repatriation of the Romanian citizens and of other nationalities and appreciated this collaboration as “a proof of solidarity and trust, attributes that stand as a foundation in the relation between our countries ".

The members of the two delegations also reviewed the way the Romanian and Pakistani armed forces can increase the level of the military cooperation, by participating in joint exercises and can consolidate bilateral relations in the field of military education.

Today’s schedule consisted in a meeting between the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chairman of the Joint Staffs Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The discussion focused on the improvement of collaboration in the field of exchange of defence intelligence, technical-military cooperation and participation in joint training activities, including the management of the armed forces’ emergency situations, as well as on the training programs ensured by the further-development centers or other forms of military education.

Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu announced that “the intention is to increase the number of activities and meetings at the level of experts and improve the general security climate by participating in UN peace-keeping missions. In this respect, I made the appreciation of the Romanian soldiers known towards the professionalism of their Pakistani counterparts in the UN-led operations from Mali, Congo and Southern Sudan, where our countries contribute with personnel”.

“Not least, I thanked General Nadeem Raza for the support offered in the evacuation of the Romanian citizens from Afghanistan. The Good cooperation relations between the Romanian and Pakistani armed forces got materialized in the field by ensuring our personnel and equipment protection in Islamabad by means of other forms of cooperation”, the Chief of Defence Staff said.

The Pakistani delegation is making a visit to Romania over 23rd-27th August, following the Chief of Defence Staff’s invitation. The visit agenda comprises meetings with representatives of the General Directorate for Armaments and national defence industry.

The Press Office