U.S.-Romanian Antimissile Shield Agreement Goes Public

Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Baconschi said the document is made public following an agreement with the United States.

Romania's highest defense body approved this spring the setting up of U.S. antimissile shield elements at a former airbase at Deveselu, in the southern Romanian Olt county.

Negotiations between Romania and the U.S. on developing the antimissile shield lasted one year and an agreement was signed on September 13 in Washington by Baconschi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Following the signing of the document, Romanian President Traian Basescu said the ballistic missile defense system guarantees Romania the highest security level in its history.

"The agreement contains nothing secret. I want to dismiss any speculation that this agreement may have any secret clauses. I hope we can agree with the U.S. Department of State shortly and make the agreement public both in Romania and in the USA," the head of state said at that time. He added the document will have to be ratified by the Parliament.

Romania's Foreign Ministry State Secretary Bogdan Aurescu presented Friday the main provisions of the agreement signed in Washington.

The document is valid for an indefinite period of time, but may be denounced anytime by any of the two parties through a written notification, which will take effect in two years. The document may also be amended through a written agreement between Romania and the U.S.

The U.S. High Representative will have exclusive authority over the operations carried out at Deveselu, while Romania will be responsible with ensuring the protection and security of the base outside the perimeter of the facility, reads the agreement.

Romania will assume no responsibility for the damages caused by the elements of the shield outside the country's territory, except for the cases when damages are caused by Romania's actions or negligence.

The USA and the European country will share costs entailed by operations in Deveselu. The two parties will ensure the financing needed to carry out their obligations as per the agreement.

The U.S. will ensure financing for the transport, construction, maintenance, support and operation of the missile interceptors and of other facilities, as well as for the services offered.

Romania will ensure funds to construct, maintain and operate facilities under Romanian authority or used exclusively by Romanian authorities at the Deveselu base, as well as to pay local property taxes.

If the two parties agree on the necessity to construct new buildings, facilities, roads or any other infrastructure outside the Deveselu base, to be used both by Romania and the U.S., costs entailed by construction, maintenance and operation will be shared by the two parties proportionally to the use, if they don't agree otherwise.

According to the document, the U.S. will refund the costs of services provided by Romania to support the States.

Romania and the United States will create a post of Romanian officer within the U.S. European Command to ensure a close and continuous cooperation in several fields, including the ballistic defense one, reads the agreement.

According to the document, details regarding the new officer post will be discussed by the Joint Committee and will be regulated through a separate implementation agreement.

The U.S. will offer Romania information about missile defense operations in the North Atlantic region. The States will also transmit information regarding missiles detected and targeted by the system, their origin and estimated impact.

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