Ministers of Defense of the North Atlantic Alliance member states discussed today about NATO participation in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, stated the minister of National Defense, Teodor Atanasiu at the end of the first session debates of the Informal Reunion occurred Thursday and Friday in Taormina, Italy.

Atanasiu declared that the ministers of Defense appreciated the Multinational Brigade South East Europe participation, for the first time, ( Romania contributes with 233 soldiers) in missions in the theaters of operations and starting April 2006 the Romanian soldiers will receive the responsibility in Kabul airport. Thus, our participation in Afghanistan will be substantial in 2006, too minister of National Defense stated.
During the talks in Taormina they also referred to the fact that this year a part of the soldiers participating in enduring Freedom operation will be under NATO command within ISAF.

As regarding the situation in Iraq, Atanasiu also stated that the process of training of the Iraqi forces of security will be continued so that they could assume the missions from NATO member states soldiers present in the region. The situation is much better then in Afghanistan and the Iraqi armed forces will sooner be ready for their missions minister of National Defense concluded.

MoND Press Office