Victims of September 11 attack commemorated at Deveselu Base in Romania

Victims of the attack that took place in the United States on September 11, 2001 were commemorated on Tuesday, 11 September 2018, at the Deveselu Base in Romania. Ceremony was attended by Romanian National Defense Minister Mihai Fifor and US Ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm.

Romania has been and remains a reliable partner for the United States of America, and events of September 11, 2001 "made us stronger (…) and made us show that together we can really be a force", said Minister Fifor.

"Seventeen years ago, we were all terrified of the terrible attack in the United States, an attack against our ally, our partner, a terrible attack against democracy, against freedom, against the idea of humanity, ultimately an attack that Romania viewed same as other democratic countries in the world have seen, and made us think that we cannot stand aside, that we have to stand by our partners", said the Minister of National Defense.

Mihai Fifor reminded that following the attacks in the US, NATO activated Article 5 for the first time in its history. "Although we were not a NATO Member State (at the time n.a.), we immediately joined our partners", he said, according to a press release from the Romanian Ministry of Defense (MApN).

"There couldn't have been a better choice for this ceremony than Deveselu Base, where together with our American partners, we show the entire world that we are determined to ensure a very good defense on the wing of the Alliance, a purely defensive facility, and I emphasize this, a place where Romanian soldiers work alongside American soldiers", concluded the Minister of National Defense.

After the ceremony, Minister Fifor visited the anti-missile facility and talked with Romanian and American soldiers operating at the Deveselu Base.

On the sidelines of the visit at the Deveselu Base, Minister Fifor and Ambassador Klemm met at the Caracal City Hall with representatives of local authorities - Mayor of Caracal, Radu Dumitru Liviu, Mayor of Deveselu, Ion Aliman and Olt County representative in the Chamberof Deputies, Dan Ciocan.

Meeting, also attended by the commanders of the main military structures in the area, focused on both the development projects carried out so far and the plans for the future.

Minister Fifor expressed appreciation for the investments made by the local government in the infrastructure and utility projects that benefit both the military base and the local communities in Deveselu and Caracal.

Mihai Fifor thanked for the support of the City Hall and the Caracal local council for returning to the administration of MApN of the former military medical clinic in the city, which will be transformed into a Regional Medical Center for Diagnosis and Modern Ambulatory Treatment.

After completion of the investments by MApN, Center will provide first-level medical care needs for the Caracal garrison, for the Romanian and American staff serving at the Deveselu Base, for military reserves, but also for civilian population, with the support of the general practitioners who will work here.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei