World Scene

Published October 24, 2005

 ROMANIA
     U.S. close to deal on Black Sea bases
     BUCHAREST -- The United States and new NATO member Romania are close to reaching an agreement to establish American military bases on the Black Sea, National Security Adviser Stephen J. Hadley said yesterday.
Romania has been promoting its airfields and bases as a hub for U.S. forces as Washington pulls 70,000 troops out of Central Europe and Asia in the next decade in favor of smaller bases closer to potential hot spots such as the Middle East .
     "The framework basically allows access to facilities so as to facilitate cooperation between the forces of the United States and Romania ," Mr. Hadley said after meeting with President Traian Basescu .

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