NATO's Fogh Rasmussen, at assembly in Bucharest: Anti-missile shield, efficient

The anti-missile shield installed by the US in Europe is efficient, as recent tests show, said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO secretary general (in picture), who is in Bucharest for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

"I can ensure you this system will be efficient and a good investment. Apart from this, if we look at it from an European perspective, it is a good deal, because the US provides a defense systems which represents a contribution to the NATO base defense system'” he said. Anders Fogh Rasmussen was asked whether speculations that the anti-missile shield installed in Europe was technically inefficient, were true. The idea was raised during the week-end by French Jean Michel Boucheron, who said he believed the US system is technically and financially inefficient. Read Rasmussen's full speech delivered in Bucharest here. High-level members of the North Atlantic Organization (NATO) were in Bucharest until October 10 for the 57th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The event gathered over 350 parliamentarians from the 28 NATO member states, North America and Europe as well as delegates from associated countries, regional partners, Mediterranean associated and observer countries to discuss issues of interest on international security, to adopt special committee reports, and to formulate recommendations. The US has installed elements of an anti-missile shield across Europe, and some elements will also be installed in Romania, at Deveselu, south of the country. Corina Saceanu, corina@romania-insider.com (photo source: NATO)