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The biggest Summit in the history of the Alliance is hosted by Romania, only four years after my country joined NATO. The high-level event will gather in Bucharest not only the members of the Alliance, but also its partners from the traditional Euro-Atlantic area and beyond.
The Bucharest Summit will include, besides the “regular” sessions of the 26 members, several meetings in other formats such as the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the NATO-Russia Council and a special session dedicated to Afghanistan.Why Bucharest? The decision was not a random one. It is my personal belief that the decision was also based on our reputation among the Alliance’s members as a result of our long-term commitments to NATO’s objectives and missions. And a high level meeting of allies and partners in Romania carries with itself a symbolic value which should not be overseen. Through Romania, NATO is now a direct neighbor with the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova. The Black Sea also offers a direct connection between NATO and Russia and the Southern Caucasus.
Hosting a Summit, especially one of this importance and size, is not an easy task. As host nation, our aim is to have a successful summit from the logistical perspective, which represents a Romanian prerogative. As part of the NATO family, Romania wants a successful Summit in what the decisions and results are concerned. And this aspect is a shared responsibility of all members of the Alliance. The Bucharest Summit has already ensured its place in the history of the Alliance as the biggest high-level event. But the value and the success to be associated with the Bucharest Summit, in the years to come, depends entirely on the consensual decisions to be adopted by the Heads of State and Government on the important issues on the agenda.
The Bucharest Summit has a great potential to be a continuum between the Riga Summit and the anniversary one in 2009. It will be an excellent opportunity to mark significant progress in implementing a wide range of ambitious projects and initiatives launched in areas of interest, not only to the Alliance, but also to our partners: the enlargement policy, energy and cyber security, the Alliance’s partnerships, the role of NATO in Afghanistan and Kosovo, the cooperation with other international organizations, military capabilities.
