Senate passes bill donating Patriot surface-to-air missile system

The Romanian Senate on Monday passed a government bill allowing for the donation of a Patriot surface-to-air missile system to third parties, 101 to 13 and two abstentions.Chair of the Senate Defence Committee Nicoleta Pauliuc voiced hope that the bill will pass through the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body in this case, by the end of this week.After the adoption of the law by Parliament, the Romanian government will be allowed to issue the decision that will make such donation operational.The bill manadates the government of Romania to take the necessary steps to rebuild the ground-based air defence capability related to the essential acquisition programme "Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile System" by awarding to the Government of the United States of America a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) state contracts specific to Foreign Military Sales programs - (FMS) for the acquisition of a PATRIOT surface-to-air missile system configuration 3+, as well as major equipment, means of transport, materials, parts, maintenance equipment, initial logistic support and training service, cryptographic equipment.At the same time, Romania's Defence Ministry (MApN) is mandated to provide the funds necessary for the payment of taxes and commissions related to the rebuilding of the ground-based air defence capability.Social Democratic Party (PSD) Senate floor leader Lucian Romascanu said that "we are NATO members and we have a security guarantee, (...) And in order to have peace here, we must help those who are fighting a little further to win, as it is another guarantee of security."National Liberal Party (PNL) senator Nicoleta Pauliuc said that by donating a Patriot surface-to-air missile system "there is no question of Romania being left without protection" because the country has seven other such systems, two of which are in working condition with the necessary human resources to manage them, two are in the with the Romanian Army and another three are to become part of it."Through this donation, Romania has demonstrated once again (...) to be a security provider in this area. When the war ends, Romanian companies will also participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine," Pauliuc said.Seante floor leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) Calin Maties voiced disagreement with the donation of the Patriot system of "USD 1 billion," saying that Romania is poor.