Posted on 10/23/2005 3:58:39 PM PDT by Panerai
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - The United States and new NATO member Romania are very close to reaching an agreement to establish American military bases on the Black Sea, U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said on Sunday.
Romania has been promoting its airfields and bases as a possible hub for U.S. forces as Washington pulls 70,000 troops out of central Europe and Asia in the next decade to smaller bases closer to potential hot spots such as the Middle East.
"There's an issue of finalizing the relevant agreement and then signing it. The framework basically allows access to facilities so as to facilitate cooperation between the forces of the United States and Romania," Hadley told reporters after meeting President Traian Basescu to discuss regional issues.
"We look forward to the conclusion of that agreement very soon," said the White House official, who also praised Romania's contribution to U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Washington's realignment plans are expected to involve a shift to small, flexible military bases in the former eastern bloc as it reduces its presence in Germany, a Cold War legacy.
"Negotiations (on bases) are practically over," Basescu said.
The bases are seen as important in Romania's drive to secure more foreign investment to close the enormous wealth gap separating it from the European Union, which it hopes to join as early as 2007.
Romania's southern neighbor Bulgaria has also said it is drafting a deal to set up U.S. bases on the Black Sea.
Basescu said possible locations for the bases could be Babadag close to the Danube delta, facilities in Constanta on the Black sea and in Fetesti, some 200 km (125 miles) east of Bucharest.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
Romania (and Bulgaria) stood up with us and for us when it was unpopular for them to do so and when France was getting on their case for being uppity. Now's the payoff.
Loyalty has it's rewards.
Excellent news -
Romania, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Albania, Georgia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia all deserve our thanks, while France, Germany (under Schroeder) and Belgium deserve our scorn. The good news is that Chancellor Merkel will be more cooperative and friendly with the US as opposed to Her Schroeder.
For your E. Europe PING list.
This is great news. It's a real win-win situation for us and Romania.
A good home for the German bases.
As the father of a Romanian born adoptee, I say thank you to our Romanian friends. We do not forget who helped us in times of need.
Will Cindy Sheehan like this? Is it what she and her ilk mean by bring the boys home? Sorry lady. They are going to Romania.
and no more asking permission of Turkey, France for overflight permission to Whack Iran or whomever. Gott'em covered now on 3 sides. 4 counting the navy... I say check mate.
Is the Black Sea a good place for our ships to be?
The Russians won't be too pleased about this, but maybe we can ask for fewer favors from the Turks.
This sounds like very good news, especially if they pull every soldier out of France! Wonder why it will take a decade to do, everything good moves in slow motion.
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