A TRANSIT WHICH WILL HAVE ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS Constanţa and Deveselu become bridge heads to the USA

In a meeting of the Romanian Supreme Defense Council, president Traian Băsescu announced that the request of the USA to use the Kogălniceanu airport and the Constanţa port as transit points to and from Iraq and Afghanistan has been approved. It was also decided that the anti-missile shield would be deployed in the commune of Deveselu, in the county of Olt.

Beyond the strictly military and strategic aspects, from an economic point of view the two decisions may encourage development in the area. The implementation of the anti-missile shield in the former airbase of Deveselu will cost 400 million dollars, and an additional 20 million dollars a year, for keeping the system functional, expenses which will be fully borne by the US, an American official announced. To reassure the inhabitants in the area, the secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu said, in a press conference held in Slatina, that by 2015, the USA will install in Deveselu a missile interception system strictly for defensive purposes, which will have no negative effects on the population, the environment or agricultural harvests. He added that the deployment of this system will involve the stationing of 150 to 200 people, which may increase to 500. The use of the Kogalniceanu Airport and of the port of Constanta by the American troops will also generate economic effects.

The press statement issued by president Traian Basescu says: "There was a meeting which among other things had two topics on the agenda. The first concerned the request of the United States to be allowed to use the Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport and the port of Constanţa as infrastructures for the transit of soldiers and military equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan - you probably know that the United States still have 150,000 soldiers deployed in Iraq -, as well as for transporting soldiers and equipment between Iraq and Afghanistan and Europe. The Supreme Defense Council has approved the use of the Kogălniceanu airport and of the port of Constanţa for transit to and from Iraq and Afghanistan.

As a result, the Kogălniceanu airport and the Port of Constanţa will become two strategic infrastructures not only for Romania, but for the United States as well. (...) The second topic discussed yesterday by the Romanian Supreme Defense Council concerned the location for the deployment of the missiles used for the American anti-missile shield. Basically, since February last year, when Romania accepted the invitation of the US to become part of this security program, several reviews have been conducted concerning the optimal location for this defense system. I can tell you, just so you know, that there are about 120 parameters which need to be met for such a location in order for the system to be completely safe. We eventually reached a decision and we opted for the former airbase of Deveselu, in the county of Olt. The airbase will remain under Romanian command, and part of its surface will be used by the American antimissile system". The president has said that the anti-missile shield is not directed towards the Russian Federation and that Romania does not need to raise the terror alert level, which should be left for now at the color which indicates caution.