1 January 1999
DM MORDECHAI MEETS WITH ROMANIAN DM BABIUC
(Communicated by Defense Ministry Spokesman)
Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai today (Tuesday), 19.1.99, met with
Romanian Defense Minister Victor Babiuc. During the meeting, DM Mordechai
briefed his Romanian counterpart on the situation in the Middle East and
Israel's wish to resume negotiations with Syria and to solve the problem
of Lebanon. He emphasized that Israel is seeking a military agreement
which will enable it to withdraw from Lebanon, but that so far, Syria is
not interested. Mordechai then described the peaceful relations with Egypt
and Jordan as "strategic peace agreements" which must be fostered and
strengthened.
DM Mordechai expressed willingness to strengthen defense relations between
Israel and Romania to the benefit of both countries.
On behalf of his government, DM Babiuc expressed Romania's support for
Israel and Romania's willingness to strengthen its ties with Israel,
especially in the defense sphere.
The two ministers agreed on efforts to examine ways to strengthen defense
cooperation in several spheres:
1. Strategic dialogue, headed (on the Israeli side) by the defense
minister's senior adviser, David Ivri.
2. Cooperation in defense and industrial matters and in procurement,
headed (on the Israeli side) by Defense Ministry Director-General Ilan
Biran.
3. Military ties, to be handled (on the Israeli side) by the IDF.