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The Romanian Naval Forces have made and will continue to make a significant contribution to the security of Romania and that of our partners in the North Atlantic region, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Tuesday in Constanta, where he is participating alongside President Klaus Iohannis and other officials in the celebrations organised on the occasion of the Romanian Navy Day at the Fleet Command in Constanta port.
"I would like to greet all Romanian sailors, military or civilian. I wish you all the best and much success in your work! Many Happy Returns on the day of August 15, the day of Saint Mary, patron saint of sailors everywhere! Besides its historical importance, the Romanian Navy Day has a special symbolic significance. With this holiday we mark the special role that Romania has in the Black Sea region and at the mouths of the Danube, where the most important navigation route from the East to the heart of Europe opens. In recent years, this position of Romania has become increasingly important, both in terms of the development of trade activities or the energy policies of the European Union, but especially in terms of its essential geostrategic position for the North Atlantic Alliance of which we are part!," said Marcel Ciolacu, agerpres reports.
"Not only in terms of energy alternatives for the European Union, after the cessation of trade relations with the Russian Federation, but especially in ensuring transit corridors for grain exports from Ukraine and as a key position in NATO's security strategies, for the actual consolidation of the Eastern Flank of the Alliance," Ciolacu added.
In view of the above, he stressed that as Prime Minister he has the duty to ensure the necessary resources for the equipping and modernisation of the Romanian Naval Forces.
"In all these aspects, the Romanian Naval Forces have had and will continue to have a significant contribution to the security of Romania and of our partners in the North Atlantic region. Therefore, as prime minister of Romania, my duty is to ensure the necessary resources for the endowment and modernization of the Romanian Naval Forces, but also for the training of the military in these structures, which ensure the defence of the nation and of the entire region," Ciolacu said.
At the same time, the prime minister stressed the need to keep the budget allocation for Defence at 2.5 percent of GDP in the coming years.
"In this regard, as you know, the budget allocation for defence has increased as of this year to 2.5 percent of GDP. I assure you that we will maintain this level in the coming years, regardless of the economic challenges we will face. It is a major and necessary commitment in the current geostrategic context in which we find ourselves," said the head of Government.
He also stressed the importance of the human factor in achieving national and Euro-Atlantic security objectives.
"On the other hand, I know very well that no matter how much money we allocate from the Government, no matter how much equipment is purchased by the Ministry of Defence to endow the Romanian Naval Forces, the national and Euro-Atlantic security objectives cannot be achieved without the contribution of the most important factor, namely the human factor. Nothing of what we intend to do in this field could be achieved without the contribution of the people, the sailors, who work in these military structures. Romanian sailors are the ones who put all these resources to work and organize them into the so-called naval force, which is an increasingly important component of our national defence system," Ciolacu added.
Last but not least, the prime minister mentioned that the waters of the Black Sea and Danube are safer thanks to Romanian sailors.
"Thanks to you, dear Romanian sailors, thanks to the activities and missions that you carry out with honour alongside NATO partners, the waters of the Black Sea and Danube are safer. Thanks to you, Romania and the entire region enjoy the stability so necessary for economic and social development. And for this, not only as Prime Minister of Romania, but especially as a citizen of this country, I congratulate, respect and thank you for all you have done! "Many Happy Returns!" and good luck for the future!," premier Ciolacu went on to say.
