Romania will be involved in the second phase of the US anti-missile shield, which means it will host only land interceptors – SM-3 block 1B missiles, due to become operational as of 2015, Foreign Ministry explained yesterday. Romania’s participation to the project implies only the installation of land interceptors, not radars, which will be hosted by other countries, according to the same source. The clarifications offered by the ministry come amid heated debates over Romania’s acceptance to host elements of the US administration’s revamped missile shield system in Europe. The decision was abruptly announced by President Traian Basescu last Thursday and has already been green lighted by the country’s Supreme Defence Council. Several politicians and parts of the media slammed the decision as hasty and raised questions about what the country’s participation in the project means and how much it will cost.

As a matter of fact, the foreign ministry announced yesterday that all costs will be covered by the United States. Romania will not have to buy any SM-3 missile interceptor missiles and will not pay for the installation or arrangement of the shield elements’ location. Romania will only make a location available for the shield elements and any additional costs will be the object of bilateral negotiations. A location for the project has not yet been decided, officials said.

The US missile shield project will be run in four stages, from 2011 to 2020 and is aimed at preventing and countering possible attacks from countries such as Iran or North Korea.

Foreign Ministry officials explained that it would have been difficult to install sea interceptors on American ships stationed in the Black Sea, since transit in the region and stationing of military vessels in the sea are regulated by the Montreux Convention.

The 1936 pact bans any military vessels from other countries to station in other states’ seas for more than 21 days in times of peace.

As for why Romania was chosen to host these elements, the ministry explained that the country has the best strategic position to host these land interceptors that are part of the missile shield’s southern flank. Moreover, recent studies show that south-eastern Europe is increasingly vulnerable to short and medium range missile threats.

The ministry insisted that the decision is not likely to have a negative impact on Romania’s national security, on the contrary. The Bush-era project, which provided the installation of shield elements in Poland and the Czech Republic, was making Romania vulnerable as it covered only part of the country’s territory, in the north-west.

The ministry also said yesterday that no national referendum is needed to approve the project, as Parliament’s ratification of the deal is sufficient. The ministry explained that all details related to the shield elements’ installation will be subject to negotiations between Romanian and US experts and officials and that any resulting deals will have to be ratified by Parliament. Several politicians, including ex President Ion Iliescu, suggested that a referendum should be called to consult the public over the issue.

Russian Chief of Staff says shield aimed at his country

Meanwhile, the Russian armed forces chief of staff, Nikolai Makarov slammed the US shield plans yesterday, saying that the project “is directed against the Russian Federation.”

Immediately after Basescu’s announcement last week, Russia slammed Romania’s decision and demanded the US to offer clarifications about the project. Moscow sees the deployment of a US missile shield so close to its territory as a direct threat, in spite of Washington’s reassurances that the system is not aimed at Russia.

The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that the US had detailed consultations with Russia about the project and that Moscow was even invited to join shield operations if it wants to.

Parliament hearings today

Meanwhile, the head of Romanian Senate’s defence committee, Teodor Melescanu, announced yesterday that leaders of the Defence Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service have been invited to a Parliament hearing over the missile shield issue. The officials will be heard by Parliament’s joint defence committees today.