January 12, 2004

Romania wants to play bigger role in the Black Sea region, could host U.S. base

BUCHAREST , Romania - President Traian Basescu said Wednesday that Romania wants to play a bigger role in the Black Sea region, and discussed facilities that can serve as NATO and U.S. military bases in this Balkan country.

" Romania wants to take a major role in providing stability in the region, and can be a strong element of balance in the Black Sea region," Basescu said after meeting with Gen. James Jones, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe .

Jones is accompanied by military experts and is inspecting military sites in Romania and Bulgaria that could host American troops as part of a Pentagon plan to create new, flexible bases in Eastern Europe .

He is scheduled to visit an air base Thursday near the Black Sea port of Constanta that Romania has offered as a possible location for a U.S. base.

The United States used the Mihail Kogalniceanu base during the offensives in Afghanistan and Iraq , along with a terminal in the port of Constanta .

Jones thanked Romania for supporting the U.S. war efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq , and for offering to host U.S. military bases.

"I think this would consolidate NATO's flank on the Black Sea ," he said. Romania has about 730 peacekeepers in Iraq and 500 in Afghanistan .

Upon taking office last month, Basescu said he wanted closer ties with the United States and Britain to guarantee Romania 's national security.

In a separate meeting with Luxembourg 's ambassador to Romania , Fernand Kartheiser , Basescu said European Union integration remained the country's top goal, but that he would diversify the foreign policy.

"I will be dynamic, but not aggressive, in foreign policy," Basescu said. " Romania needs to play an important regional role and consolidate its contribution to NATO and the European Union."