The military analyst and television producer Radu Tudor published on his blog an account of the events that happened 20 years ago, which he witnessed.
On March 29, 2004, Romania submitted the ratification documents of the NATO Treaty to Washington, and four days later the flag of our country was raised at the Brussels headquarters of the alliance.
“20 years ago. March 29, 2004. Otopeni Airport.
We board the long-haul Boeing 707 of the Romavia company. The delegation of officials is large. Journalists’ is even bigger.
After a long flight Bucharest-Washington, we are preparing for a moment expected for 14 years, practically, since the fall of communism.
We go to the White House, where the ceremony of signing and submitting the ratification documents of the Washington Treaty for seven new states takes place.
Great emotions, immense satisfaction. There are hundreds of people on the lawn, each waiting in their own way for the ceremony.
New Europe brought seven states into NATO in 2004
US President George W. Bush appears. He delivers a historic speech, in the presence of the seven prime ministers of the countries that join NATO.
Adrian Năstase is sober, sitting right next to Bush. They both hope to win the presidential election.
Năstase remained hopeful, Bush won a second term.
The next day, on March 30, the reception offered by the US Administration takes place in honor of the accession to NATO of the seven new members: Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
I salute the head of the Pentagon, the legendary Donald Rumsfeld.
He answers me kindly, although he wasn’t the type…
He asks me where I’m from. I answer him with one of his favorite lines: “New Europe, Secretary Rumsfeld. Romania”.
Answer: “Oh, yes, New Europe”.
Radu Tudor: I felt the historical value of Romania’s definitive return to the space of freedom, democracy, security
He smiles widely, he rarely does. We take a photo together. We drink a glass of red wine. The euphoria of the moment is unmatched.
I felt the historical value of Romania’s definitive return to the space of freedom, democracy, security, with the territory and population protected by the most important guarantee in the world: NATO membership status.
The next day we were flying to Brussels.
On April 2, 2004, the emotional ceremony of raising the Romanian flag took place at the NATO Headquarters.
Radu Tudor: With the war on the border, we fully understand the historical value of our integration into the strongest political-military alliance
When the national anthem is sung and I see the flag raised by the Romanian military, I cry. I try to avoid curious or ironic looks.
Romania’s accession to NATO was the most spectacular effort made by our country after December 1989.
Now, when we are on the brink of an illegal and unprovoked war launched by Russia in Ukraine and the Black Sea basin, we all fully understand the value of our integration into the strongest political-military alliance in history.
Compared to 20 years ago, the status of an ally brought us an unprecedented strengthening of our defense: thousands of NATO soldiers on our territory to defend us, investments of over 4 billion dollars in the modernization of Romanian military bases and units”. says Radu Tudor on his blog.
Tags: years Romania definitively returned space freedom democracy security
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