The Romanians at Eufor are not replaced. Agreement with Albania
(B2) The absence of Romanians at Eufor is confirmed. They were to go to the north of Abéché, to Iriba, with the Polish contingent. This will not be the case after the Supreme Defense Council decision to limit the commitment of Romanian soldiers. And “for the moment, there is no replacement planned”, we affirm at the Council of the EU. This is the first significant failure by a Member State to fulfill its commitments made at the launch of the mission.
This event demonstrates, in any case, the importance of the prior reservations made by a Member State, during force generation conferences. The Romanians had mentioned the need to obtain authorization from the CSAT. It also shows the fragility of the commitments of certain governments, particularly coalition governments. In February, the Romanian Minister of Defense publicly criticized his Foreign Affairs counterpart, during a session in the Romanian Senate, for having initiated Romania's participation in Chad at the December EU Council of Ministers. , without the approval of the High Defense Council. It is finally a setback for the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, who had obtained during his visit to Romania in February, a personal commitment from President Basecu on this presence (Too bad, they had the same flag as that of the government of Chad... ).
Other news, on the sidelines of the EU-Mediterranean summit, in Paris, Sunday July 13, Javier Solana and the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, initialed the agreement confirming the participation of 60 Albanian to the Eufor operation.
(NGV)
© Photos: (top) Romanians in Iraq (Romanian Defense Ministry)
(bottom right) signing of the Solana-Berisha agreement in Paris (EU Council)
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