On the occasion of the Veterans Day, military and religious ceremonies were organized on Sunday in Bucharest and in the garrisons where there are military units that have carried out missions in the theatres of operations. Similar activities also took place at the graves and monuments devoted to the sacrifice and heroism of Romanian servicemen who died in the theatres of operations. National Defence Minister Mihai Fifor said that Veterans Day represents an occasion to bring homage to the 29 Romanian servicemen who died on duty after 1990, who showed that sometimes “freedom is very dear.” “It is a day full of symbolic charge – on the one hand it is the day when one hundred years go the armistice was signed and technically the first world war was coming to an end, on the other hand it is Veterans Day, and I want to say that it is a very complicated day for us, because we think with devotion, high respect, of the 29 heroes of the Romanian Army who died in the theatres of operations after 1990. There are 29 Romanian servicemen who showed that sometimes freedom is very dear and who died under the flag doing their duty for this country,” Fifor said, who attended on Sunday in the Youth Park the ceremony organised at the Monument of Heroes fallen in the theatres of operations and on Romania’s territory. Fifor also referred in his message to the families of those who died on duty, pointing out that “it isn’t easy to lose someone dear, away from home.” “On the other hand, it is a day when we enjoy with the veterans of the theatres, the veterans who returned home safely, they are the best ambassadors that Romania has, they are servicemen highly appreciated there where they do their duty, and, I say, represent us with success wherever they are sent to,” Mihai Fifor also said. He pointed out that Romania’s Army is being modernised at a fast pace, and this effort must show that our country is a credible partner, a trustworthy partner for the North Atlantic Alliance and for the strategic ally, the US. PM Dancila: The sacrifice of Romanian soldiers made Greater Union possible Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Sunday sent a message on occasion of Veterans Day, bringing to mind that the sacrifice of Romanian soldiers made the Greater Union of 1918 possible. “On this day with a symbolic charge, we are honouring our heroes, who re-wrote Romania’s history and put their personal sacrifice to the service of the nation’s welfare. One hundred years ago, on 11 November 1918, at 11:00, the Armistice was being signed between the powers of the Entente and Germany, an act that ended World War I. The sacrifice of the Romanian soldiers made the Greater Union of 1 December 1918 possible, a national goal that has changed the history of our country. Soon we’ll be celebrating the Greater Union Centennial. Our entire gratitude to the heroes who contributed to building Great Romania!,” Viorica Dancila says in her message. The PM also voices consideration to the veterans of WWII, who “defended with patriotism, strength and a lot of courage the national values and interests.” “Today we honour as well the Romanian servicemen present over the past years in the theatres of operations, under NATO, UN, OSCE or EU mandate. It is the new generation of winners. They also had an important role in keeping peace and security in conflict areas, acknowledged by the foreign partners, supported the local populations to take their fate into their own hands and have a better life, consolidated the allies’ confidence in Romania and brought a huge prestige to our country – also, with sacrifice from them and their families. Our thought goes out today with compassion to the families who lost in missions sons, husbands, fathers or dear ones. Our homage to the 29 heroes who made the supreme sacrifice. To those injured in missions we wish good health and strength, and to those in the theatres of operations, to come back home safely!,” Dancila said. At the end of her message, the PM voices on her behalf and on behalf of the Government gratitude to the Romanian veterans. “On my behalf and on behalf of Romania’s Government, I am voicing gratitude to the Romanian veterans! I am proud of being part of the people having such heroes! Many happy returns, Romania!,” the Prime Minister’s message says.
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Romania’s Defence Minister Mihai Fifor said on Friday during a visit to the 57th Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base with Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan that incidents such as the recent one when an American military aircraft was intercepted by a Russian airplane in the Black Sea international airspace, are frequent. “Such incidents, unfortunately, are relatively common; I do not mean this type of interception, it indeed did not happen in a long time and it was at least a bizarre attitude on the part of the Russian Federation. It was an obvious challenge, and we believe such actions have no place in such situations, because there are challenges that can have unpleasant consequences. There can be accidents and no one wants such a thing,” the minister explained. Fifor reiterated that the role of air policing is to prevent the violation of NATO airspace and that no incidents of this level have been recorded so far. “We believe that there is enough space to be able to carry out our missions. We have repeatedly shown that we are ready for these missions with our allies. We all know that there have been reports from Canadian colleagues of Russia’s aircraft approaching the NATO airspace. Once again, they did not enter the NATO airspace, but it is precisely the role of air policing missions to prevent such things and that is why we are prepared and carry out these missions (…) I cannot put an exact number on these incidents. Our aircraft take off whenever needed and they carry out the air policing missions. Once again, that is their role, that is why we are here with our partners,” said Fifor. Fifor reiterated that the procedure for the acquisition of corvettes is almost complete and hopes that by November 15 he will be able to announce the completion of the procedure, the object of which is the construction of four corvettes at a shipyard in Romania under a partnership, industrial cooperation and know-how transfer, so that the offset under this programme may help upgrade two frigates purchased from the British Navy. He also said that acquiring submarines for the Romanian Navy is still on the agenda. “The concept phase of the submarine acquisition project is complete and we hope to be able to take it as soon as possible before the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT),” said Fifor. “Black Sea region faces Russia’s aggressive intention to militarise it” The Romanian official stressed also during a visit to the 57th Mihai Kogalniceanu Air Base that the region finds itself in a “complex security situation” amidst “the aggressive attitude of the Russian Federation displayed in its intention of militarising the Black Sea and by increasing the military forces in the region and the deployment of new capabilities.’ Fifor told his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan that the presence of Canadian partners in Romania as part of the NATO air policing mission sends a message of solidarity and contributes to the implementation of reinsurance measures in a regional context. He also commended his Canadian counterpart for the constant support provided by Canada and for the contribution of the country to the implementation of the measures related to the enhanced forward presence adapted to all dimensions: air, navy and land. “I want to thank you once again for your country’s contribution by taking up positions at the Multinational Division Command and the Command of the Multinational Brigade Southeast in Craiova. I am pleased to reiterate our appreciation for the presence of the Canadian Air Force, namely about 135 military deployed at the air base of Mihail Kogalniceanu and CF-18 airplanes performing enhanced air police missions between September and December 2018. I also want to point out the professionalism and dedication with which they carry out their missions in Romania as they implicitly contribute to the maintenance of a climate of peace and stability, both in the region and in the Euro-Atlantic area,” said Fifor. He added that people in the Black Sea region “are going through difficult times.” “We are going through difficult times in this region where we find ourselves in a complex security situation and facing an aggressive attitude on the part of the Russian Federation which intends to militarise the Black Sea and increase its military capabilities in the region while deploying new capabilities. These are the things that both Romanian and Canadian soldiers can notice every day on Romania’s soil,” Fifor said. He also said that meeting his Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan is also an opportunity to address issues such as strengthening a deterrent and defensive posture, effective in countering threats to NATO security, as well as Romania’s bid to host a NATO army corps and to identify concrete co-operation ways for the commissioning of such capability to contribute to the architecture of a coherent command and control structure for NATO’s south-eastern flank. “I want to use this opportunity to reconfirm our desire to continue collaboration that is very valuable to Romania, which, along with an intense programme of joint exercises, the affiliation of forces and personnel with the NATO command and control bodies in Romania, will enhance the architecture for bilateral co-operation,” said Fifor. He also referenced the importance Romania will attach to transatlantic dialogue while holding the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2019. “On a different note, the importance of intensifying the dialogue between our countries is all the more relevant as Romania will take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union from January next year. Particular attention will be paid to strengthening the transatlantic relationship as a priority of our presidency as well as of the intensification of the NATO-EU cooperation. One thing is certain: that we cannot think of the whole architecture of European security without a strong transatlantic link and I am convinced that we will be able to co-operate on this issue as well,” concluded Fifor. Photo: Bogdan Pantilimon, www.mapn.ro…
The French Ambassador Michèle Ramis, the German Ambassador Cord Meier-Klodt, and the Bulgarian Ambassador Todor Churov, will attend on Sunday, November 11, for the fourth year in a row, a joint ceremony commemorating the end of the World War I, and especially the centenary of the truce of November 11, 1918. The ceremony will pay a tribute to the French, German and Bulgarian soldiers who died on the battlefield as well as to all the civilians who were victims of the violence of the Great War, and will begin at 14.30 with laying wraths at the square of the French Heroes from the Bellu Cemetery (1 Oltenitei Road), and will continue starting at 15.30 at the squares of the German and Bulgarian soldiers from the Pro Patria Cemetery (7 Oltenitei Road). SIGNIFICANCES OF THE DAY OF NOVEMBER 11 FRANCE – “ARMISTICE” The day of November 11, 1918, the end of the World War I, is celebrated in France under the name “Armistice”. The first truce from Compiègne (in French, Armistice de Rethondes) was concluded on November 11, 1918, between the German Empire and the two Western powers, France and the United Kingdom. Today, the truce continues to be commemorated on November 11, with emphasis on maintaining peace, friendship between nations and honoring the heroes’ memory. Since 2006, the day of November 11 is also dedicated to the tribute paid to all those who sacrificed themselves for France. The 531 French soldiers who died during the World War I are buried in cemeteries from Bucharest, Constanta, Galati, Iasi, Slobozia and Timisoara. Some of them were members of the unit led by General Henri Mathias Berthelot in his mission to assist the Romanian army between 1916 and 1918, providing counseling and training, as well as an important medical aid for both the Romanian soldiers and civilians. In France, the symbol of the memory and solidarity for the veterans, war victims, widows and orphans, is „Bleuet de France”. This symbol was chosen because the cornflowers (“bleuet” in French) continued to grow on the Western front that was devastated by bombs. GERMANY – “THE DAY FOR COMMEMORATING THE VICTIMS OF WAR AND VIOLENCE” The Day for Commemorating the Victims of War and Violence was established by the German War Graves Commission, founded in 1919 in the memory of those who died in the World War I. The first official ceremony was held in 1922 in Berlin, in the German Reichstag. In 1934, the Nazi leaders established by the law The Day for Commemorating the Victims of War and Violence as a national holiday entitled “Heroes’ Remembrance Day”. After the birth of the German Federal Republic, the German War Graves Commission reintroduced The Day for Commemorating the Victims of War and Violence, the first ceremony being held in 1950, in the plenary hall of the German Bundestag. As a result of a convention between the federal Government, Lands and the great religious denominations, the date was set for the penultimate Sunday of the church (evangelical) year, respectively the 33rd Sunday of the liturgical (Roman Catholic) year. The German War Graves Commission considers this commemoration day a day of mourning and sadness, even the war was long ago. However, the Day for Commemorating the Victims of War and Violence has also become a call for reconciliation, understanding and peace. The “forced” sadness wasn’t the essence of the Day for Commemorating the Victims of War and Violence, but the goal was to visibly mark the solidarity between those who didn’t suffer losses and the families of those who died. In more than 1,000 places from Romania, over 90,000 German soldiers form the two World Wars are buried (mausoleums, military cemeteries and common graves). The most important cemeteries are in Buzau (10,420 people buried), Iasi (over 5,000), Bucharest (3,855), Braila (3,278), Batinesti-Tifesti (2,872), Targu-Jiu (1,681), Bordesti (999), Dragoslavele-Joseni (911), Ramnicu-Sarat (933), Pitesti (609), Galati (596) and Soveja (529). In the cemetery of the German soldiers Pro Patria from Bucharest, there are 3,855 German soldiers buried (2292 soldiers from the World War I, and 1563 soldiers from the World War II), 300 Austro-Hungarians, 165 Bulgarians, 18 Russians, 8 Hungarians, 6 Romanians, one Italian, one Serbian and 38 unknown soldiers. BULGARIA – “ARHANGELOVA ZADUSHNICA” In Bulgaria, the commemoration day is called “arhangelova zadushnica”. Zadushnica is a day in the Orthodox calendar in which Bulgarians commemorate the souls of those who died, which gave the name „zadushnica”, meaning “for the soul/for the sake of the soul”. Every year, in November, Bulgarians celebrate „arhangelova zadushnica”. This day is dedicated to the souls of the soldiers who died in various wars in the past. For this reason, this day is also called „mazhka zadushnica“ – the day for commemorating the souls of the men. In this day, commemorations are taking place in the military cemeteries and at other memorial places, to pay a tribute to the heroes who died in wars and battles for Bulgaria’s freedom. 163 Bulgarian soldiers who died during the World War I are buried in cemeteries from Babadag, Cocos, Pitulati, Batogu, Sarinasuf and Celic Dere. 
President Klaus Iohannis signed on Thursday decrees promulgating laws ratifying agreements. Among the promulgated laws is a law ratifying the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Serbia on defence cooperation, signed in Belgrade on December 4, 2017 and the Law ratifying the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the Lebanese Republic on defence co-operation, signed in Bucharest on November 27, 2017. President Iohannis also signed a decree promulgating a law ratifying the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Armenia, of the other part, of the other part, signed in Brussels, November 24, 2017.
The Romanian and Canadian Ministers of Defence, Mihai Fifor and Harjit Singh Sajjan, on Friday will pay a visit to the 57th Air Base Mihail Kogalniceanu, on which occasion they will meet with the troops of the Canadian detachment deployed in Romania for conducting Enhanced Air Policing missions, as well as with the Romanian Air Forces personnel working at the 57th Air Base. “The Canadian detachment, made of 135 troops (pilots and technical staff) and CF – 188 Hornet aircraft, is conducting, alongside the MiG-21 LanceR and the troops of the Romanian Air Forces, Enhanced Air Policing missions under NATO command,” reads a release of the National Ministry of Defence (MApN). The Air Policing missions carried out jointly contribute to the development of the response and deterrence capability and, as well as the strengthening of the inter-operability of the Romanian Air Forces and Canadian Royal Air Forces. 
Italy’s Ambassador to Romania Marco Giungi said that repudiating war does not amount to repudiating history, stressing that “paying a well-deserved tribute to the heroes fallen on the battlefield in the name of the homeland” is a duty. “Accepting restrictions of sovereignty does not imply the disappearance of the nation, just as repudiating war does not amount to repudiating history. On the contrary, we have the duty to preserve its memory, both in order to pay a well-deserved tribute to the heroes fallen on the battlefield in the name of the homeland, and in order to become more adamant in refusing other wars. There is therefore no contradiction between refusing war and respect to the soldiers who fought in these wars”, Marco Giungi said at a ceremony at the Ghencea Italian Cemetery in Bucharest, on the occasion of the celebration of Italian Armed Forces Day. The diplomat evoked the sacrifice of the troops in the First and Second World Wars, saying that the pride of the Italian soldiers’ sacrifice is the true civic virtue they hold. Attending the ceremony organized at the Italian Ghencea Cemetery were ambassadors and military attachés, as well as Romanian and Italian civil and military authorities. On November 4 the Italian Armed Forces celebrate the victory that marked the achievement of Italy’s unification. The Italian Ambassador and Military Defense Attaché, Col. Andrea Tiveron, placed flower wreaths at the monuments of the Italian and Romanian heroes at the Italian Cemetery to commemorate the soldiers who have laid down their life in Italy and abroad, and of whom 1,700 are buried in Romanian soil. Many of them were killed in the line of duty during the First World War, and belonged to the Italian Division that was part of French General D’Esperey’s allied army and participated in the offensive on the Macedonian front in September 1918; others are heroes fallen during WWII, as they were committed to the Russian front. Photo: RRI