President Traian Basescu explained on Sunday, in the news journal of the national public television, TVR, that Romania does not need to take a stand on Libya and the coalition’s military intervention. “We made it very clear that Romania respects the 1973 resolution issued on March 17th which instates a no fly area to protect civilians”, Basescu said. This is the first official reaction of Romania’s President since the UN Security Council adopted the resolution introducing a no fly area in Libya.

“I consider that when a chief of state shoots its own people, he loses his legitimacy”, the President said. President Basescu declared after the European Council meeting on Friday, March 11th that a no fly area should be a NATO assumed mission not a mission assumed by the EU and that Romania does not support a military solution in Libya.

The President's main statements:

• NATO’s leadership will decide today whether the alliance will join air strikes conducted by the international coalition, headed by the US, France and Great Britain, AP informs quoting diplomatic sources. 
• Several NATO member countries declared that they will not take part in the air strikes remind that the coalition is already strongly involved in the Afghanistan war. 
• The President’s statements: Romania does not have an official stand because it is not needed yet. Currently, NATO does not take any action in Libya but a willing coalition formed by France, Canada and the US is.  
• We do not have the military force to take independent actions. Romania attended all military plans meetings since the UN resolution. 
• The operations plan will be finished tonight and the operations directive is the new stage This can be finished tomorrow, in 48 hours or even 72 hours. 
• Romania remains part of the club. When NATO will take a decision, Romania will be there. What can the Romanian chief of state communicate? I do not believe a reaction is needed since a decision is not taken yet. The operations plan is just the first stage of the no fly area. 
• We do not know what the second or third will be. It is unknown whether the EU will get involved in the humanitarian operation.  
• Romania has some capacities from this point of view but nobody asked for them yet. I cannot take decisions on my own; the National Defence Council of the Country is to decide Romania’s involvement depending on what is requested of us. NATO did not approve an operations plan. 
• The meeting was suspended again. There are serious talks related to the efficiency of the action and other matters that are related to NATO strictly. 
• Romania’s planes are not suited for such actions. Our participation so far has been diplomatic. I can say that Romania will act within NATO. We are NATO members, that is where we will take action. Romania will have a stand on the matter when the NATO’s execution directive will be approved. 

This is the first official reaction of Romania’s President since the UN Security Council adopted the resolution introducing a no fly area in Libya.

NATO’s leadership will decide today whether the alliance will join air strikes conducted by the international coalition, headed by the US, France and Great Britain, AP informs quoting diplomatic sources. Several NATO member countries declared that they will not take part in the air strikes remind that the coalition is already strongly involved in the Afghanistan war.