Romanian president says defense body approves US missiles
By APThursday, February 4, 2010
Romania pres: Defense body approves US missiles
BUCHAREST, Romania — President Traian Basescu says the country’s top defense body has approved a U.S. proposal to place anti-ballistic interceptors in Romania as part of a revamped U.S. missile shield.
Basescu says the measure is not directed against Russia. He says the interceptors will increase national security.
U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden was in Romania in October as part of a tour of Central Europe, where he presented a revamped U.S. missile shield to replace a scrapped Bush-era plan to install interceptors in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic.
It was unclear whether the announcement reflected any decision by the Obama administration on where to place interceptors for its European system.
The measure passed the Supreme Defense Council on Thursday and must be approved by Parliament.
