Christian believers are celebrating today the Assumption of Mary, one of the biggest feasts of the year.
August 15th is also the Navy Day, as Virgin Mary is the protector of sailors. Events to mark this day have been organized in Romania’s Danube and Black Sea ports. The festivities in Constanta have been attended by Romania’s president Klaus Iohannis, who stressed the importance of sailors’ work, which entails lots of sacrifices but also satisfaction. PM Nicolae Ciuca too has conveyed a message, stating that he will support programs aimed at modernizing the Romanian army. In turn, the defense minister Vasile Dincu has voiced conviction that starting next year, the Romanian Naval Forces will be better equipped and prepared.
Many people gathered in Tomis Port to watch the parade of military ships. In addition, on Romanian Navy Day, reaching now its 120th anniversary, visitors to the port of Constanta could watch exhibitions and a virtual sea battle.
President Iohannis: Romania has become a symbol of the unity, solidarity and cohesion that characterizes the North Atlantic Alliance
Romania has become, in a matter of months, a symbol of the unity, solidarity and cohesion that characterizes the North Atlantic Alliance, said President Klaus Iohannis, present on Monday at the festivities occasioned by the Romanian Navy Day, in Constanta.
“In a matter of months, our country has become a symbol of the unity, solidarity and cohesion that characterizes the North Atlantic Alliance. Through the joint activities carried out by the Romanian and allied militaries here, at the Black Sea, under NATO command, we put into effect our firm commitment to defend each other and to defend together the democratic values that unite us. I take this opportunity to emphasize once again Romania’s appreciation for the presence in our country of the military from the United States of America, France, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands,” said the president.
Klaus Iohannis emphasized that the Black Sea is considered today an area of strategic interest for Euro-Atlantic security, and this is demonstrated not only by the “unprecedented visibility of the entire region”, but also by the presence of over 5,000 allied servicemen in Romania.
“We are on the shores of the Black Sea, only a few hundred kilometers away from the unjust and brutal war started by Russia against Ukraine, an armed conflict that many no longer thought possible in the Europe of our time. In recent years, we have acted constantly and decisive for the Black Sea region to be recognized as one of major interest for the Euro-Atlantic community, due to its geostrategic importance as border of the North Atlantic Alliance and of the European Union. Today, the Black Sea is considered an area of strategic interest for Euro-Atlantic security, as I clearly stated together with the other allies NATO’s Strategic Concept, which we approved at the historic Summit recently held in Madrid,” said the head of state.
Romania will put into practice the decisions adopted in Madrid and, together with its allies and partners, will strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defense posture in the Black Sea region in the long term. Romania will continue to fulfill its role as “a pillar of regional stability” and to act in a “unified and coordinated” manner within the European Union so as to manage the effects of the war in Ukraine, President Klaus Iohannis also mentioned.
“Today, more than at any time in recent decades, a higher level of ambition is needed, including in the field of defense, to face the multiple challenges in the current extremely complicated context. Therefore, starting with 2023, we will make an extra effort to increase the budgetary allocation for Defence from the current 2 percent of GDP to 2.5 percent. We will use these funds to accelerate the endowment and modernization of the Romanian Army, including the Naval Forces, and to increase the level of training of our military, so that we achieve the interoperability of our force structure with the allied forces, more efficient, capable of ensuring national defence and contributing to collective defence, together with our NATO allies,” Iohannis said.
The president paid tribute to those who sacrificed themselves under the national flag. He emphasized that being a navy sailor “is more than a job, it is a lifestyle” that involves many sacrifices, but also countless satisfactions and achievements. Iohannis also highlighted that thanks to the missions carried out by the Naval Forces, together with NATO and the EU allies and partners, Romania’s territorial waters as well as the world’s seas are safer.
“The tenacity, determination, endurance and spirit of sacrifice that you show make the seafaring profession both honorable and difficult. Being a navy sailor is more than a job, it is a lifestyle that requires many sacrifices, but also countless satisfactions and achievements. (…) You are the expression of professionalism and dedication, and we thank you for the sacrifices you make so that we all live safely,” the Romanian president went on to say.
At the beginning of the festivities in Constanta, the guard of honour saluted the President, followed by the raising of the Flag, the Jacket and the Great Pavoaz on board the military ships, to the tunes of the Romanian National Anthem, simultaneously with 21 cannon salvos. The Te Deum service was officiated by the Archbishop of Tomis, Teodosie, accompanied by a council of military priests.
President Klaus Iohannis went on to visit training ship “Mircea”, recently returned from an international training trip. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, Minister of Defence Vasile Dincu, Minister of Internal Affairs Lucian Bode and Acting Senate President Alina Gorghiu also attended the event.
PM Ciuca: Conflict near borders underlines need for modern army
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca affirms, on Monday, in a message sent on the occasion of the Romanian Navy Day, that the security of the region is vital for our security, and the conflict in the vicinity of the borders underlines, once more, the need for Romania to have a modern army, with cutting-edge military equipment.
“The security of this area, marked by complex and constantly evolving challenges, is vital for guaranteeing our security, everyone’s security. Through successfully completed missions, Romania contributes to ensuring freedom of navigation, freedom of trade and movement in the Black Sea and the security of naval traffic, proving our country’s ability to be a security provider and guarantor of stability in the extended region of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean basin,” reads the Prime Minister’s message.
He maintains that he will support the modernization programmes of the Romanian Army.
“The conflict near the borders emphasizes once more the need for a modern army, endowed with cutting-edge military equipment. The recent period has sanctioned the acceleration of the modernization process of the Navy both to meet the requirements of this important category of armed forces within the process of implementation of the commitments assumed towards NATO and the EU, as well as to be able to respond to the new challenges of the international security environment. I will continue to support, from the level of the Romanian Government, the development of the modernization programmes of the Romanian Army and the Romanian Navy,” declares Nicolae Ciuca.
According to him, the characteristics of the security environment in the Black Sea area, as well as Romania’s participation in the security structures of NATO and the European Union, inevitably generated the conceptual, structural and operational transformation of the Romanian Navy.
“The Romanian Navy continues the tradition of its forerunners by acting in the nation’s interest and to guarantee the safety of the borders, the maritime and river security and the development of complex military-diplomatic relations in the Black Sea and everywhere where the Romanian state finds its geostrategic interest, “Prime Minister Ciuca’s message further reads.
PM Ciuca to sailors: Thanks to you, Romania remains main nation supporting Ukraine’s exports and imports
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca states, on Monday, in a message sent on the occasion of Navy Day, that thanks to Romanian navy sailors, our country remains the main nation supporting Ukraine’s exports and imports.
“You have proven, on countless occasions, the ability of this people to give birth to brave and efficient people, capable of facing the vicissitudes of the sea and life as a sailor. You have represented the country with professionalism and honour in all the missions assigned abroad and every time, upon returning to the country, you were able to report with pride: “Mission accomplished!” Thanks to you, Romania remains the main state that supports the exports and imports of Ukraine, hard-tested in the war, through the Port of Constanta and other port facilities and through the transit of goods on the territory of our country, directly or through the Republic of Moldova. We have assumed a task in which the Romanian Navy plays an important role in demonstrating its mastery and the ability to cooperate with the allies in order to achieve the desired goals,” reads the message sent by the Prime Minister to the navy sailors.
He assures them of the “appreciation and full support” of the Government.
Nicolae Ciuca recalls the significance that Navy Day has for Romanians, an occasion to honour the forefathers and to pay tribute to the “naval heroes who rest in the depths of the waters”.
DefMin Dincu: Starting next year, Navy Day to find Romanian Naval Forces better equipped
Minister of National Defense Vasile Dincu expressed, on Monday, his conviction that “starting next year” Navy Day will find the Romanian Naval Forces better equipped and prepared than this year.
In a message sent on the occasion of Navy Day, Minister Dincu pointed out that the war in Ukraine shows how important it is for Romania, a country bordering the Black Sea, to protect its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
“The Naval Forces are our spearhead in this area and I want to congratulate each of you for the professionalism and dedication you demonstrate every day, with every mission carried out to excellent standards. I assure you that at the level of the team I lead at the top of the Ministry of National Defence we know in detail the situation of the endowment of the Naval Forces and we understand the urgency with which the essential procurement programmes must be implemented to provide you with the modern, efficient and interoperable tools with which you can carry out the assigned missions,” reads the message sent by Vasile Dincu to the navy sailors.
He mentions a range of equipment the Naval Forces need, adding that the increase in the Defence budget will allow the pace of acquisition to be accelerated.
“We are talking here about the mobile anti-ship missile launcher systems (SIML), an ongoing programme, about multifunctional corvettes, whose acquisition procedure we hope to complete in the shortest possible time, but also about other projects aimed at modernizing capacities and infrastructure and ensuring an appropriate endowment for our naval forces, at the level of current and future security challenges. Raising the level of allocation for the defence budget by the Government of Romania from 2 to 2.5 percent of GDP will allow us to allocate additional resources for endowment with new equipment and the speeding up of the acquisition pace. I express my conviction that, starting next year, the Romanian Navy Day will find the Naval Forces better equipped and prepared than this year, and with each passing year we will be able to add new and new achievements,” says Minister Vasile Dincu.
He brings to mind the regional context represented by the war in Ukraine, but also of the “over 5,500” allied soldiers currently deployed in Romania.
“The North Atlantic Alliance firmly expressed its solidarity with the Ukrainian people and promptly adopted defensive measures, aimed at strengthening the defence capacity on the eastern flank and deterrence of any form of aggression against the allied territory. In the shortest possible time since the outbreak of hostilities, the Alliance activated, for the first time in history, the defence plans, deploying important forces and additional means of the NATO armies on the territory of the allied countries on the eastern flank, including in Romania, something that represents clear proof of the Euro-Atlantic solidarity and cohesion,” states Dincu.
Furthermore, the minister points out the significance of the Romanian Navy Day.
“Today, we devoutly remember the naval heroes who fell in the line of duty on behalf of Romania, during the wars of the past or in the last decades, in the theaters of operations or in missions carried out on the national territory and who sleep their eternal sleep rocked by the waves of the waters that they loved so much. We revisit their acts of bravery, and their memory will be preserved forever in the memory of our people,” the message sent by Minister Vasile Dincu further reads.
IntMin Bode: Romania consistently contributes to EU security, accession to Schengen, natural consequence of actions so far
Minister of Internal Affairs Lucian Bode shows, in a message sent on the occasion of Navy Day, that Romania contributes consistently to the security of the European Union, which is why our country’s accession to the Schengen Area, as soon as possible, represents a “natural consequence” of the actions taken so far.
“The fact that the Coast Guard, together with the other structures in the architecture of the public order and national security system, does its duty to the highest standards is a gratifying fact in the perspective of achieving one of Romania’s strategic objectives: accession to the Schengen Area. Our country consistently contributes to the security of the European Union, therefore our country’s accession to the Schengen Area, in the shortest possible time, represents the natural consequence of our actions so far,” the minister wrote on Facebook.
According to him, the Coast Guard is a “mature” European structure that Romania and its partners can rely on in difficult situations.
“We have confidence in the professionalism demonstrated by the employees of this structure in the entrusted missions, whose sole objective is to ensure the security of the national and regional maritime space. I thank and congratulate them for the way they do their duty towards Romania, and for their efforts in support of the defence of the democratic values and principles on which the sovereignty, independence and freedom of the states are built,” said Bode.
The minister was present on Monday in Constanta, alongside President Klaus Iohannis and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, at the festivities dedicated to Navy Day.
“Sailors everywhere are associated with patriotism and courage, arousing admiration and respect, even more so in a complicated geopolitical context, when the strategic importance of the Black Sea, both from a military and economic point of view, is even more evident. Romania is part of the North Atlantic Alliance, a status that honours and makes us responsible at the same time, and from this perspective, Romania has an important role in the common mechanism of NATO aimed at ensuring the security of the member states and regional stability,” Bode also wrote.
Compiled from Radio Romania International and Agerpres
Photo: www.presidency.ro
The post Romanian Navy Day, celebrated in the Constanta Military Port. Iohannis: The Black Sea is considered today an area of strategic interest for Euro-Atlantic security first appeared on Nine O' Clock - first exclusively daily publication to appear in English language in Romania.