U.S. Can launch Attacks From Romanian Bases
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The Bucharest Daily News
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
By Alecs Iancu

Under the agreement on the location of U.S. military facilities in Romania, The United States can launch an attack from Romanian territory with out knowledge or approval of the Romanian authorities.

Parliament's Joint Defense and Foreign Policy Committees discussed the accord yesterday with representatives of the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The agreement, signed last year by Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Dec. 6 last year, allows U.S. troops access to four Romanian military bases.

Mihai Kogalniceanu in Constanta will be the most important U.S. military base, as it will become the headquarters for the U.S. military's new Eastern European Task Force.
The other three locations will be mostly used as training facilities.

According to Ungureanu when the accord was signed, the document includes principles guaranteeing that the facilities cannot be used in purposes contrary to legislation and International Treaties Romania is part of.

Under the accord, Romania will give up its Jurisdiction over possible offences committed by members of the U.S. military on its territory. Also, the bases will be mostly used for training and equipment storage and, in case of necessity, for troop training. The first troops are expected to arrive next summer.

Until then, Parliament has to ratify the accord. During yesterday's session, the head of the Senate's Foreign Policy Committe, Liberal Senator Norica Nicolai, asked for clarification regarding the possibility of launching a U.S. attack from the bases to be set up in Romania.

The two lawmakers also required explanations on whether the bases Romania will host may be included in a global military program, such as the anti-missile shield.

The Foreign Ministry's State Secretary Teodor Baconschi said the framework accord does not include "extra-territoriality clauses," but admitted that Romanian authorities cannot rule out the possibility of the U.S. launching operations from its bases in Romania completely.

"But we hope the maturity of relations between the two countries will determine the U.S. to consult with the Romanian side," he added.

When asked to specify whether the accord includes any obligation of the U.S. to have Romania's formal approval for launching an attack from its bases here, Baconschi said
"there is no such formal obligation."

Subsequently, Nicolai suggested that a firm declaration by which the U.S. vows to respect the Romanian state's sovereign rights in this field be negotiated.

However, Senator Ioan Talpes said at the end of the session that the U.S. does not resort to military actions from a state without informing the authorities. Besides, the bases accord is not the only agreement regulating Washington-Bucharest relations, as it is part of a wider system which results from Romania's NATO membership, added Talpes.

Source:
http://www.daily-news.ro/article_detail.php?idarticle=23658