Romanian Troops End Mission In Iraq

The Romanian head of state will also meet with the Iraqi president, sheiks and local Iraqi leaders.

Basescu is accompanied in this visit by defense minister Mihai Stanisoara and General Staff head, Admiral Gheorghe Marin.

Defense minister Stanisoara said mid-May that Romanian troops would be pulled from Iraq in the second half of the year, under a pullout calendar established with the Iraqi government.

Romania has had troops in Iraq since 2003, helping the country’s reconstruction and stabilization process. Over the past six years, Romania has sent 6,830 troops in Iraq, of whom two were killed in missions and 12 were injured.

Keeping troops in Iraq cost Romania 334.42 million lei (EUR1=RON4.1928) until the end of 2008. Until December 31, 2008, Romanian troops were in Iraq under a UN mandate and an agreement with the Iraqi government, which required the further presence of troops from Romania, United States, Britain, Australia, Estonia, El Salvador and a NATO structure after that date.

Throughout 2008, 16 out of 22 nations part of the multinational force, pulled their troops from Iraq.

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