President Basescu visited Romanian troops in Iraq and Afghanistan (Dec 25, 2006)

Romania's President Traian Basescu together with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai, while in Kabul.

(Initially published in www.romania-report.ro -- Dec 25, 2005)

Last week, President Traian Basescu visited Romanian military forces in Tallil (Iraq), Kandahar and Kabul (Afghanistan). He also paid a short visit in Tbilisi (Georgia).

When returning in Bucharest (Dec 22), President Basescu said the visit was intended to provide Romanian soldiers with the proof that the Presidency and the Government of Romania are paying their respects regarding the country’s military operations abroad.

Basescu said Romanian forces are able to perform both peace-keeping tasks and the background for economic development in the regions under their responsibility.

Basescu also said he had met Afghan President Hamid Karzai, while in Kabul, and Georgia’s President, Mihail Saakashvili, in Tibilisi. President Karzai was offered a T54 tank battalion -- soon to be replaced with NATO-compliant tanks by the Romanian army. Romanian President Traian Basescu made a surprise stop in Tbilisi on his way back from Afghanistan on December 22, the Georgian President’s press office reported. No other details of the visit are reported. President Basescu has already visited Georgia once this year to participate in the celebration of the 'Rose Revolution' on November 23.

Romania Report