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The Romanian Naval Forces and the Romanian Army are a security provider in both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, on which our partners can rely, said the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Mihai Panait, at the celebrations held at the Fleet Command in Constanta Port on the occasion of the Romanian Navy Day.
"It is a great honour for us, the people of the sea, to have you today as distinguished guests at this event, which, since August 15 1902, has become part of our country's spiritual heritage. As every year, in these moments charged with respect and gratitude, we pay a pious homage to the sailor heroes, military or civilian, who, over the years, have given their lives to defend Romania's waterfronts and sacrificed themselves for the glory of the tricolor flag. On account of the complex security situation in the Black Sea region, generated by the war started last February by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the effort of the Romanian Naval Forces has focused on the surveillance of the maritime and river space in our area of responsibility, as well as on the operation to fight against sea mines, which we have been carrying out systematically since the danger of drifting sea mines to navigation and economic activities," said Mihai Panait, agerpres reports.
"This year we participated with the frigate 'King Ferdinand', with a helicopter on board, in the European Union operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and we will participate in three weeks in the NATO operation 'Sea Guardian' with the frigate 'Regina Maria'. We are thus demonstrating that the Romanian Naval Forces and the Romanian Army are a security provider in both the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, on which our partners can rely," Panait added.
According to him, Romanian sailors prove, through everything they have done and everything they continue doing, that they are up to the demands of the profession they have chosen.
"We are at the service of every Romanian citizen and we carry out our constitutional missions with dignity and professionalism to strengthen collective security and defence in the Black Sea region, being a credible and stable partner, a security provider for our international partners," Panait stressed.
He pointed out that investing in the future is for the Romanian Naval Forces an anchor of stability in the national education system and an important investment in the future of the institution.
"We have permanently adapted our educational offer to the challenges of the current security environment, and through the international marches of the training ship "Mircea", our pride, of the seamen, we have continued to develop Romanian naval diplomacy in the ports in which the honourable sailing ship had made stopovers", Panait said.
In this context, he thanked the National Defence Ministry (MApN) leadership for the constant support given during the last year to achieve the objectives assumed, as well as all the Romanian Naval Forces personnel for the efforts made to achieve the planned objectives and the missions received.
"I convey my thanks to your families for their understanding and for the support they are constantly giving you. I wish all the crew members of the Romanian Naval Forces to remain the same reliable people, dedicated to their job, who will transmit to the next generations the devotion to the profession of sailor, the pride of being Romanian and the feeling of patriotism. I invite the youngest fellows to find the necessary energy to carry on the noble tradition of the defenders of Romania's waterfronts. May the Blessed Virgin Mary continue to protect Romania's naval forces and its people, and be with them in their hour of need, as well as in their hours of celebration and joy! (...) Many happy returns! Good watch forward," said Vice Admiral Panait
