The respect and gratitude owed to veterans of theatres of operations must also be reflected in the way the Romanian state fulfils its obligations towards them, Prime Minister Luca Niculescu stressed on Wednesday.

'Today we pay tribute to Romanian servicemen who took part in missions in theatres of operations, far from their country and families, in places where peace and security cannot be taken for granted. Over the past decades, our servicemen have been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, the Western Balkans and other conflict zones. Thanks to them, Romania has been able to demonstrate that it is a partner on which its allies in the cause of maintaining peace can genuinely rely. Very importantly, Romania's security depends not only on its membership of NATO, but also on what we do and on our contribution to collective security,' Niculescu said in a message issued on Veterans of Theatres of Operations Day.

According to the prime minister, the authorities have a duty on this day to remember all Romanian servicemen who never returned from their missions, those who came home bearing visible or invisible wounds, and the families who stand by them.

'The respect and gratitude we owe our veterans must also be reflected in the way the Romanian state fulfils its obligations towards them: in the support provided to those wounded, in access to medical care and rehabilitation, in their reintegration into civilian life, and in the care extended to the families of those who fell in the line of duty,' the prime minister said.

He also recalled that November 11 marks the armistice that brought the First World War to an end in 1918, noting that peace and security are once again being put to the test at a time when war has become a reality on Europe's borders.

'On November 11, 23 years ago, Romania lost Second Lieutenant Iosif Silviu Fogarasi, the first Romanian serviceman to fall in the line of duty in Afghanistan. Today, we also commemorate the armistice that ended the terrible conflict of the First World War in 1918, in which our servicemen covered themselves in glory through their supreme sacrifice. Once again, we are living through times in which war is a reality on Europe's borders, while security and peace are being put to the test. Our veterans know better than anyone what it means to live in insecurity and how precious peace is. I hope that each of us understands more clearly just how important it is to have a strong army, reliable allies and, above all, people prepared to defend Romania,' Luca Niculescu said.

The head of the government thanked veterans for the way they had served their country.

'Dear veterans, thank you for the courage, dignity and dedication with which you have served your country! May God protect Romania!' he said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Florea; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)