Romanian air space and infrastructure available to US

The Supreme Defence Council (CSAT) yesterday endorsed the United States’ request to be granted the right to use Romania’s air space and necessary infrastructure for a military operation in Iraq, as well as to have Romanian troops participate in a possible conflict in the Persian Gulf, President Ion Iliescu announced.
The head of state specified Romania could contribute nuclear, chemical and biological decontamination subunits to a possible military intervention, as well as dispatch military police, engineering and medical subunits.
According to the President, the CSAT documents will be immediately forwarded to the two Parliament Chambers for endorsement.
Parliament will analyse the CSAT documents tomorrow, Senate chairman Nicolae Vacaroiu announced. PNL (National Liberal Party) and PD (Democrat Party) said they agreed with CSAT’s decision, while PRM (Greater Romania Party) was the only party to have reservations.
PRM’s first deputy chairman Corneliu Ciontu feels the Romanian Parliament should wait until after the “UN Security Council delivers its ruling” in order to make a decision about a possible war against Iraq.
“CSAT made a decision based on the US’ request, but a decision about Romania’s involvement in a possible war against Iraq has to be debated by Parliament. I for one feel we must not make a decision in Parliament before the UN Security Council delivers its ruling,” Corneliu Ciontu said.
Also yesterday, CSAT analysed the measures to protect the Romanian citizens and the diplomatic personnel in the region.
The Council recommended the Government and the Romanian intelligence services to take the necessary steps to provide security and protection of important objectives and to ensure the public peace and safety.
Ion Iliescu cared to point out “Romania is not at war” and instructed the media not to induce panic among people, as this served no one. He referred to “certain shows” that were making people more sensitive to such issues and therefore created panic.
The President added Romania was not in the position to have to choose between the United States of America and the European Union. Iliescu said the country attached the same importance to the ties with the US and the EU. “Both parties are trying to alleviate the irritation somehow. We have no choices to make with respect to one party or another,” the President said. The head of state said he had just got some news saying there had been no such thing as a French-German alliance concerning Iraq. “There is no crisis within the NATO. Let’s not make a fuss about things,” Iliescu added.