US to pay USD 400 mln for anti-missile system in Romania

The US authorities will pay USD 400 million for locating the anti-missile system at Deveselu in Romania, with an additional USD 20 million for the anual functioning costs, missilesnot included. Romania doesn't have to pay anything, only provide the former military base at Deveselu and the security of the system. Creating an additional anti-missile system, for protecting the people of European countries members of NATO costs about EUR 200 million and its development was assessed a year ago to EUR 833 million. Romanian President Traian Basescu said on Tuesday, May 3 that for the beginning, 200 U.S. military will be deployed at the former air base at Deveselu, adding that the unit remains under the command of the Romanian Air Force. Bogdan Aurescu, the Romanian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs has said that the U.S. system that will be installed by the year 2015 at Deveselu in Romania is a strictly defensive system for interceptions, that will not have any kind of negative effects on population, environment or agricultural crops. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com