The 63rd annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly at the end

The 63rd annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, held this year in Bucharest, ended after four days of discussions.

The debates focused on security situation in the Black Sea region, positioning of Russia in the neighborhood of the Alliance, cyber threats and situation in Afghanistan.

"Romania will continue to be a reliable partner and ally within NATO" - is the message delivered by the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to the Parliamentary Assembly delegations. In his opinion, both the North Atlantic Partnership and the NATO-EU Partnership should be strengthened, as the security climate deteriorates.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Romania for its contribution to the collective defense and said that NATO is keeping its promises and adapting to new challenges and security threats.

"We are concerned by Russia's military build-up close to our border and by its lack of transparency when it comes to military exercises," Jens Stoltenberg said.

Jens Stoltenberg: "We continue to call on Russia to engage in international engagements, because Russia is our neighbor, is here to stay here, we do not want to isolate Russia. NATO does not want a new Cold War and our actions are designated to prevent not provoke conflicts, so we want to embrace transparency and predictability that are in everyone's interest".

„We need a strong Alliance, based on a strong transatlantic relationship, and all of these require a renewed political commitment of the Alliance and a fair distribution of defense costs”, said the President of the Romanian Senate, Călin Popescu-Tariceanu.

Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu: "Terrorism, cyber threats, aggressive actions of state or non-state actors, tense relations with the Russian Federation, frozen conflicts or hybrid threats are all on our common agenda of priorities. Today, more than ever, we need a strong Alliance, based on a solid transatlantic relationship".

The President of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, Liviu Dragnea, states that Romania wants to implement the commitments assumed alongisde the acceptance without hesitation of responsibilities, including budgetary, by all partners.

Liviu Dragnea: "We have made and continue to make great efforts to increase our profile in the European family.

We have allocated the necessary budgetary resources for defense as few countries have done. The relationship with the transatlantic partners is of strategic importance for us, and the Romanian soldiers contribute courageously and decisively on the theaters of operations and successfully defend the first line of the European and Euro-Atlantic frontier".

Delegations to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly have approved a series of policy recommendations for NATO governments on issues ranging from the weaponisation of social media, stability and security in the Black Sea area, Alliance support for Afghanistan, closer cooperation with the European Union and a fairer share out of defense costs among the 29 allies. adopted several resolutions.

The 63rd annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, held in Bucharest on 6-9 October 2017, has been attended by representatives of 29 NATO Member States and 21 partner nations.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei