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The US gives up a type of missiles in Europe as they want to increase their protection against North Korea
The US administration informed that they decided to adjust the defence anti-missile system in Europe by giving up the introduction of some intercepting missiles, in order to develop anti-missile protection measures on the territory of the US as a result of the threats coming from the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, according to the MFA. The state secretary for strategic affairs Bogdan Aurescu had a phone conversation on Friday with Rose Gottenmoeller, State subsecretary for the control of armament and international security in the State Department at the request of the American party. ‘The American official showed that the American party wants to inform the Romanian party in the spirit of the bilateral Strategic partnership and as a NATO ally, on the decision of alteration of the structure of the anti-missile defence system of the US ( the European Phased Adaptive Approach – EPAA)’ the MFA says in a press release.
‘At the same time, the American party will develop a series of measures for anti-missile protection on the territory of the US. This decision was motivated by the necessity to keep in mind the evolution of the threats with possible attacks with ballistic missiles at the address of the US territory on the part of the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea. At the same time, Rose Gottemoeller said very clearly and firmly that the decision to adjust the EPAA does not affect Romania – the second phase of EPAA – which means the functionality of the Deveselu Base by 2015 – so it will develop according to the established calendar, without any alterations or delays. Moreover, the American official reconfirmed – the type of interceptor which was to be introduced during the phase 4 was not, since the beginning of the project, planned to be installed in Deveselu. The American official reiterated the commitment of the US to the protection of the territory, of the population and the forces of the NATO European members’ the MFA press release says.
We reiterate the fact that the Ministry of Defence, Mircea Dusa met on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence with Damon Wilson, Executive President ofthe US Atlantic Council, an important theme of the discussions being the process fo the preparation of the Deveselu base. The minister of defence presented to the American official the stage of the works at this base. ‘ At present, the works are advanced, the local authorities take measures for the access road and the sewage system to be finalised so that they could support the activity of the base and to facilitate transport conditions’ Dusa said.
In his turn, Damon Wilson said that Romania is a viable ally for all the projects started with the US. ‘ The Deveselu project is an important one which will link the two countries for the years to follow. I want to congratulate you for the increase of the defence budget, which will make the process of modernisation and endowment easier’, he said.
Fox News said in February by quoting an investigation of the congress, that secret studies of the Defence Department throw a doubt on the system of anti-missile defence which would be placed in Europe and will protect the US against the Iranian missiles. The American Embassy in Bucharest informed, in this context, at the request of MEDIAFAX that the US are still committed to the project of the anti-missile shield in Europe, and the calendar of construction of the base in Deveselu in Romania will continue as established.
The agreement between Romania and the US of America regarding the placement of the defence system against ballistic missiles of the US in Romania got into action on 23 December 2011. The agreement regarding the placement in Romania of elements of the American anti-missile shield was signed on 13 September 2011 in Washington during the visit of president Traian Basescu, one year and a half since the announcement regarding the participation of Romania to the project.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence :the project of the anti-missile system in Romania will start working without any delays
MAE and MapN informs on the fact that, following the contacts with the American party,prior to the announcement of the American secretary for defence regarding new measures for defence of the US territory against the potential attacks with missiles, the results are the following:
The project of the anti-missile defence system of the US to be installed in Romania in the second phase of the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) in the Deveselu Base is not affected.This will be developed in the calendar agreed with the American party, to become operational at the level of 2015, as it was established initially.
The type of interceptor to be introduced in use during phase 4 ( which the American party refers in the announcement of the Defence secretary – Standard Missile 3 IB)was not, since the beginning of the project, planned to be installed in Deveselu, where Standard Missile 3 IB is to be installed.
As a conclusion, MAE and MApN reiterate the fact that the project of the anti-missile defence system to be developed in Romania ( which is phase 2 of the EPAA) will operate without any delay according to the calendar established with the American party, with the necessary financing of the US and the decision announced yesterday by the defence secretary has no negative effect on this process.