To mark the two-decade anniversary of Romania’s accession to NATO, a period in which Romania was actively committed to strengthening Euro-Atlantic security, respecting all its obligations, Romfilatelia will introduce into circulation on Friday, March 29, this year, the issue of postage stamps entitled 20 years since Romania’s Accession to NATO.
The issue, consisting of two postage stamps (with the face values of lei 5 and lei 13) and 1 First Day Cover, presents the NATO symbols in graphic images, alongside the Romanian flag.
Romania’s accession to NATO, on March 29th, 2004, marked a crucial moment in the country’s contemporary history.
This major foreign policy success was a confirmation of our commitment to the values of the Alliance and was the result of a comprehensive reform process. The overwhelming support of public opinion and the political class made the goal of accession to NATO a constant concern of successive administrations after the restoration of democracy.
Romania’s success was also an essential moment in the consolidation of European stability and security.
As an Ally, Romania increased its contribution to NATO missions and operations, significantly contributing to the fulfilment of the Alliance’s fundamental tasks: collective defence and deterrence, crisis prevention and management, security through cooperation. At the same time, sit became an active presence in political debates, with its own ideas and proposals aimed at strengthening the Alliance, based on a strong transatlantic relationship, so that NATO remains effective in managing all threats and security challenges to Member States. Developments in NATO’s eastern neighbourhood and in the Black Sea area have always, naturally, been a priority issue for Romania. At the same time, we have taken an active role in supporting security and stability in the Western Balkans.
Romania supports the “open doors” policy, as an instrument that reconfirms the transformative value of the accession process and expands the space in which democracy and the rule of law are defended by all Allied states.
After the Russian Federation launched the war of aggression against Ukraine, Romania assumed an active role in the coherent strengthening of the allied deterrence and defence posture on the Eastern Flank, in the process of articulating a comprehensive response to the unprecedented threats to all Allies. This role was doubled by active and multidimensional support for Ukraine as well as other partners exposed to the negative consequences of the ongoing war.
By joining NATO, Romania obtained the strongest security guarantees in its history, and the 20 years of membership in the Alliance irreversibly transformed it and strengthened its role and capacity to contribute to Euro-Atlantic and international security and stability.
Romfilatelia thanks the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for providing the official insignia that belong to the NATO symbolism.
