News:Joint press point by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos of Romania – Secretary General’s opening remarks#News247WorldPress

So Prime Minister Ciolos, you are really warmly welcome here at NATO headquarters because it is great to have you here and to be able to meet with you and to discuss common challenges.

And Romania is a highly valued member of our Alliance. Contributing actively to NATO’s missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. To Black Sea security. And to our support for Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. Helping them to build their own defence capacities.

Romania is also hosting important NATO assets. Like the Multinational Division South East, which was activated in December. It will strengthen the defence of our Alliance.

Last year I visited the NATO Force Integration Unit in Bucharest, one of the eight small new headquarters we are setting up in the Eastern part of our Alliance. It will contribute to planning, exercises, and help ensure NATO troops can deploy to Romania quickly, if needed.

Romania will also host a vital part of the NATO missile-defence system in Deveselu.

I commend Romania for increasing your spending on defence in 2015. And for your commitment to continue this increase in the years ahead. This is key for our Alliance as we respond to security challenges in a changed world. Where we all face a new and demanding security environment.

Romania does a lot to contribute to a strong NATO. And a strong NATO is the best guarantee for security in Europe.

Especially today, when we face the biggest security challenges in a generation. Our Alliance is responding to these challenges. We are increasing the readiness of our forces. We have stepped up our presence in the Eastern part of the Alliance. And NATO’s presence will get stronger as we prepare for our Summit in Warsaw in July.

We are also working closer than ever with the European Union.

In supporting the response to the migration and refugee crisis. On dealing with hybrid threats. And in supporting partners like Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.

A strong NATO is also the best foundation for dialogue with a more assertive Russia. We do not seek confrontation. On the contrary, we are working to restore predictability in our relations with Russia. And transparency related to military activities.

There is no contradiction between strong defence and dialogue with Russia. We need both. More defence – and more dialogue.

This is even more important when times are as difficult as they are now.

So, NATO is adapting to wide-ranging and complex challenges.

In this, we count on Romania. And Romania can count on NATO.

So welcome again, mister Prime Minister. I look forward to working with you in the busy months ahead of our Warsaw Summit.

So welcome once again.