President Klaus Iohannis will welcome on Monday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, with talks focusing on the future summit of the North Atlantic Alliance and the eastern flank.
“The agenda will include a hands-on assessment of the stage of the implementation of the decisions adopted at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016 and the Brussels Summit in May 2017, as well as the preparation of the agenda and outcomes of the forthcoming 2018 NATO Summit. Aspects regarding the continuation of the process of adapting the Alliance to the complex international security environment, with focus on NATO’s defensive and deterrence posture on the eastern flank, will hold an important position in the talks,” the Presidential Administration said in a release on Thursday.
After the talks, the two officials will hold a joint press statement.
President Klaus Iohannis and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will also participate in the opening of the 63rd session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly taking place at the Parliament Palace in Bucharest, with the head of the Romanian state delivering a speech to the plenary session.
Monday afternoon President Klaus Iohannis and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit together the NATO Multinational Brigade South-East (MN BDE) based in Craiova.
“The establishment of this NATO structure on Romania’s territory is one of the major accomplishments of our country, decided by the heads of state and government present at the 2016 NATO Summit in Warsaw for strengthening security in the region. Combining the efforts of Romania, the allies and NATO as an organization, this structure is the expression of the underlying principles of the North Atlantic Alliance – solidarity and unity,” the Presidential Administration underscores.
The initial operational capability of MN BDE was declared this April and attaining the final operational capability is scheduled for November 2018; the ceremony for the activation as NATO Military International Headquarters took place in July 2017.
On the occasion of the visit to Craiova, the two top officials will also meet with the Polish troops deployed to Romania as part of the Multinational Brigade.