US Ambassador: The antimissile shield at Deveselu will become operational in March 2016
The work on the Deveselu military base in southwestern Romania, which will host components of the American antimissile defense system, will be ready by the end of this year, and the site will become fully operational by March 2016, the US Ambassador to Romania Hans Klemm said on Tuesday.
The US and Romanian Governments plan to organize a ceremony at the end of this year to mark the completion of the construction work, according to Klem. He explained that, besides finishing the construction work, there are still some tests to be run before the system is fully operational. That moment will also be marked by a ceremony that will take place in April-May next year.
The Ambassador visited on Tuesday the military base in Deveselu and the new kindergarten in the village, which was financed by the American Government.
“This new school is a gift from the American people to the citizens of Deveselu and for the families and children of the surrounding towns, villages, and communities. The goal of the school is to provide a better environment for the education of the children of this part of Romania and will have long lasting effects. A better educated population in Deveselu will lead to better economic outcomes and will help the future of the region, as well as Romania as a whole to grow and prosper,” Klemm said at the inauguration ceremony of the new school.
“Deveselu has become an exceptionally important location, not only in Romania but also for the United States and the entire North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance,” he added. “Due to its decision to host the facility that’s very close to us that will be an essential element to provide security against ballistic missile threat, Deveselu has become a key element in the security for the entire transatlantic region.”
The United States and Romania jointly selected the Deveselu Air Base near Caracal, Romania, to host a U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System, in May 2011. The official agreement between the US and Romania for this project was signed in September 2011. The US invested USD 143 million in this project, with the largest contract, worth USD 134 million, being awarded to American company Kellog Brown & Root Services.
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