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President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that it is essential for the acquisitions of the armed forces to be secured and pointed out that funds for this area should be used efficiently.
"It is essential for the acquisitions of the armed forces to be secured to attain the standards that are specific of a modern and powerful army. Under the agreement that I proposed at the beginning of my term in office, concluded between the leaders of the political parties of Romania for the first time after 1989, 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is allocated for defence spending starting in 2018. Almost 35 percent of this budget represents funds for the purchase of major pieces of equipment. We have created the fundamentals for the spending to be kept at the same level for at least one decade. Thus, the strategic planning process can be based on a modicum of predictability. However, I am warning you that these funds should be used in the most efficient way, and the Government, the management of the Ministry of National Defence and the Romanian Armed Forces have the obligation to take this responsibility very seriously," Iohannis said at a military ceremony that took place in the Carol Park in Bucharest on the Romanian Army Day.
