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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: March 9, 2006 |
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Israel will offer Romania help in fighting terrorism, Romania's defense minister said Thursday after talks with his Israeli counterpart.
The offer was made during a one-day visit by Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. The two ministers also discussed Romania buying F-16 fighter jets from Israel, a decision that would be taken by the end of the year, Romanian Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiu said.
Atanasiu thanked Israel for its offer to help in the anti-terrorism fight. Israel "probably has the best expertise in the world," Atanasiu said at a news conference.
Romania currently has 860 troops in Iraq and analysts are concerned that the risk of a potential terrorist attack could increase when the U.S. military opens bases in Romania this year. The United States will use facilities including the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base near the Black Sea, which was used heavily during the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Other installations will be used for weapons training.
Atanasiu and Mofaz signed a five-year cooperation agreement between the countries' two armies. No further details of the agreement were available.
The ministers also discussed international military operations, management of air space and communications, Atanasiu said.
Mofaz invited Atanasiu to visit Israel. He said that the two discussed the situation in the Middle East and Iran's nuclear program.
Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful and only aimed at generating electricity, but an increasing number of countries have come to share the U.S. view that Tehran is seeking to develop atomic weapons.
The U.S. and Europe want Iran to give up uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel or materials for a nuclear bomb. |
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