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Ponta on visit to Afghanistan: I have wanted to convey message of seriousness and predictability on pledge fulfilment
Premier Victor Ponta said on Wednesday that the aim of his recent visit to Afghanistan was to give a signal on behalf of Romania's Government referring to the fulfilment of the pledges made by the Romanian State as a NATO member state.
'I have wanted to convey, on behalf of Romania's Government too, a very clear message of seriousness and predictability when it comes to fulfilling the pledges we took to the NATO and the US, to the other participating countries there, that Romania will carry through the operations in the field, that we have a common strategy with all our partners, which means that we came together almost ten years ago and will leave that place together hoping that the human and material sacrifices will leave behind a better society than the one we found there in Afghanistan,' said Ponta at the end of the Government meeting.
He explained that he insisted on conveying this message as there were 'possible concerns' considering the fact that the new Government belonged to another political majority.
'By my presence there and by the decisions we have made and are still making in the Government I have wanted to show very clearly that we are serious and, leaving aside what separates us domestically, Romania must be seriously and predictably represented in point of international pledges,' said the Premier.
He also added that he thought it his duty as a Prime Minister to go to Afghanistan in order to convey 'a message of appreciation and thanks' to the Romanian servicemen there.
In his turn Minister of Defence Corneliu Dobritoiu said that the Romanian troops in Afghanistan would gradually be diminished in number starting in the second half of 2013.
'The main allies will get disengaged from Afghanistan operationally at the end of 2014. After 2014 the Alliance is to ensure assistance for the development and training of the Afghan national security forces,' said Dobritoiu.