Implementing U.S. Antimissile Shield In S Romania To Cost $400M

Costs to set up U.S. antimissile shield elements at a former airbase at Deveselu, in the southern Romanian Olt county, rise to $400million, plus $20 million to be allotted annually for system operations, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

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The official said costs will be covered entirely by the United States. Romania will only make available the airbase at Deveselu and will ensure the protection of the antimissile system, the U.S. negotiator told a news conference in Olt.

Romania's and USA's delegations negotiating the implementation of U.S. antimissile shield elements in the East European country are headed by Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry state secretary Bogdan Aurescu and Ellen Tauscher, U.S. under secretary of state for arms control and international security affairs.

The two officials held talks with local authorities in Olt regarding the consequences of setting up of the antimissile shield.

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Tuesday the country's highest defense body approved the setting up of U.S. antimissile shield elements at Deveselu. He said 200 U.S. troops will be deployed in Deveselu, for starters, adding the airbase will remain under the command of the Romanian Air Force.

The head of state reiterated the U.S. antimissile shield is a defensive, not an offensive, system and is in no way directed at Russia.

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