The world closes a ten-year circle after the killing of the mostsought after terrorist on the planet, Osama Bin Laden, during thenight of Sunday to Monday. Romania, which has since the very startbeen on the American side, could benefit from this episode.
Yesterday morning, at 5.40 Romanian time and 22:40 Americantime, President Barack Obama announced the end of the longest warof the last century. Ten years of searching for Osama Bin Ladenhave resulted in his being shot dead in the head, at close range,in a CIA operation coordinated by none other than its chief LeonPanetta.
Romania has been on the "side of the good guys" during theseyears and has won alongside its allies, following the demise of themost sought after terrorist on the planet.
What could Romania gain from the developments of the night ofSunday to Monday? Immediately after September 11th 2001, Romania,alongside most countries of the world, declared its support for theUS. Unlike others, it followed through with concrete action.Romania has participated with troops and logistics in theAfghanistan war. Only 11 countries are now present in Afghanistan(the war started in 2001), with operations currently under NATOmandate. In 2003, when Iraq was invaded, in a war waged in the nameof a better world, Romania had to suffer the opprobrium of Franceand discontent of other European countries for its support given tothe Americans.
Romania spent tens of millions of dollars on these operationsand expected some benefit, such as taking part in Iraq'sreconstruction, which has yet to happen.
Mircea Geoană was foreign minister at the time when Romaniadecided to join the Afghanistan war, and 25 million dollars wereallocated at the time for this operation. By 2009 the overallamount spent by Romania for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq hadexceeded 350 million dollars.
What does the former foreign minister think about thesedecisions?
"This is the triumph of justice. But high-level decisions arenot always calculated short-term. Romania won by its participationin the decision-making in international organisations and wonrespectability. There is of course the regret that we are notinvolved in rebuilding Iraq, that Iraq's debt to us has not beenrecouped (over 1 billion dollars, excluding interest i.e.). But adecision such as the one we made was long-term, and did not targetone specific interest. In this respect, we have gainedcredibility," says the former head of foreign affairs.
Pentru alte știri, analize, articole și informații din business în timp real urmărește Ziarul Financiar pe WhatsApp Channels
