The time is come for the Romanian army to leave Iraq and for companies to step in, president states
It is now the time for Romanian companies to replace the army forces in Iraq and to help the country back on its feet, declared the country's president, Traian Basescu, attending the ceremony marking the end of the Romanian mission in Iraq, on Friday.
The Romanian president will meet his Iraqi counterpart and some of the local leaders in Baghdad.
“The two countries have a history in economic cooperation. It would be a shame for Romanian companies not to step in through this open door. We have at least some moral rights to be here,” declared Basescu.
The president arrived at the military base camp in Tallil. He was accompanied by the National Defense Minister, Mihai Stanisoara, by the General Staff chief, Admiral Gheorghe Marin and by other chiefs of the army.
The Romanian mission in Iraq began six years ago and will end on July 31. The country sent all in all 6,830 soldiers to Iraq. Two of them died and 12 were injured.