President Basescu: Romania has the responsibility to protect the state borders, the EU and NATO borders

For Orthodox Christians, August 15 is the „Holy Mary Day”. In laic life, Romania celebrates the Navy Day, an event attended to by Romania President Traian Basescu, himself a former commercial ship captain. „The Navy modernization must be accelerated, since Romania bears, in the Black Sea, the responsibility to protect the state borders, which are also borders of the European Union and NATO”, said Basescu on the Navy Day. „The Romanian navy forces assume this responsibility in the name of Europe and its allies”, said the head of state.

Wishing „many happy returns” to the sailors, Basescu pointed that sailors are people who, unlike the others, have two great loves – for the ship and sea, on one hand, and for their families, on the other.

Authorities expect some 100,000 people to watch the shows put up today by the Navy divers, helicopters and aircraft.