Traian Basescu meets Romanian troops from Afghanistan

President Traian Basescu, Romanian Defence minister Gabriel Oprea and Major State General Gheorghe Marin went today in a surprise visit to Afghanistan to meet with Romanian troops in the region, Romanian news agency Mediafax informs. The visit has not been announced in advance for security reasons. Traian Basescu went to Afghanistan straight from Afghanistan, where he had been in an official visit on Tuesday and on Wednesday.

The Romanian President was greeted on the airport in Kandahar by NATO troupes commander in Afghanistan general Stanley McChrystal, and by British commander Major General Nick Carter. The Romanian chief of state discussed for twenty minutes with the two generals.

Basescu is scheduled to meet on Thursday, March 4, the Romanian soldiers in the region.

There are currently 1.020 Romanian soldiers dislocated to Afghanistan. The authorities in Bucharest decided some time ago to send 600 more. During the last 12 years, 12 Romanian soldiers have lost their lives in operational theatres from Afghanistan.