The Day of Romanian Armed Forces is celebrated today, October 25 in all cities hosting military units, as well as in the countries where Romania has military attaches and in the military bases in the theatres of operations where Romania military are deployed.
In Bucharest, laying wreath ceremonies took place in the morning at the National Heroes Monument in front of “Carol I” National Military University and at the Unknown Soldier Tomb in Carol Park, a ceremony also attended by PM Dacian Ciolos and officials representing the Interior and National Defence Ministries.
The National Aviation Museum in Bucharest will hold the Open Gate Day during 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while starting 18:30 a withdrawal ceremony with torches takes place on the following route: National Military Circle, Regina Elisabeta Blvd., Mihail Kogalniceanu Blvd., Splaiul Independentei, Cotroceni Avenue, Iulia Maniu Blvd, Vasile Milea Blvd., Romanian Land Forces.
A new military combat outfit of the Romanian Army will be presented at the National Military Circle Palace at 19:30.
The traffic will be restricted downtown Bucharest on Tuesday, to allow the military ceremonies, the Traffic Police informed.
During October 25-November 2, the Mountain Hunters, one of the oldest types of units in the Romanian military, will recast the march carried out by the first mountain hunter battalion on the Bucharest-Targu Neamt-Brasov route.
Military ceremonies will also take place at Satu Mare and Carei. In Carei, there will be a military ceremony and religious service, as well as a videoconference with the Romanian military from the theatres of operations in the Karoly Park at 12:00.
Laying wreath ceremonies will be also held at the cemeteries and the monuments dedicated to the Romanian soldiers in Austria, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
Rossoshka in Volgograd region in Russia will host a re-interment ceremony of the Romanian soldiers who died in Stalingrad battles.
On October 25, 1944, the Romanian Army successfully ended the liberation campaign of the national territory. Over 520,000 soldiers joined the liberation campaign, wit 58,330 being killed, injured or gone missing. The Romanian military units continued the military actions in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria, next to the allied forces, contributing to the victory achieved on May 9, 1945, which marked the end of WWII in Europe.
President Iohannis: Romania has got an efficient Army
President Klaus Iohannis told the ceremony organised at the “Glory to the Romanian Soldier” Monumental Ensemble of Carei, Satu Mare County that Romania has an efficient Army, in line with those of high professional and moral quality.
“Today, 25 October, we celebrate the Romanian Army Day, and I urge you to take a bow in respect of those who served and continue to serve their country with devotion,” Iohannis said.
“Romanians’ confidence in the Army proves that this institution has consolidated in the general perception the profile of guarantor of the state sovereignty, independence and unity. However, at the same time, I believe people appreciate the moral standards and the professionalism of those who are willing to risk their lives for the common good,” he added.
Klaus Iohannis pointed out that Romania is currently at the crossroads of several areas which challenges to the Euro-Atlantic security and which impose a redefinition of the military strength, as well as the adaptation of the response actions.
“On the one hand, to the East, the Russian Federation questions the principles and mechanisms ensuring stability on a European level. On the other hand, we witness growing instability in the Middle East region, including through the emergence of several new types of radicalism and terrorist extremism or migration. We must promptly respond to all these challenges, but, at the same time, based on a strategy and vision. Romania has proved it has strategic objectives and that it knows how to achieve them,” President Iohannis stated.