Romania Says Agreement Near On U.S. Military Base

24 October 2005 -- Romanian President Traiann Basescu says negotiations for a U.S. military base in his country are nearly finished.

Basescu made his comments after meeting in Bucharest with U.S. President George W. Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, on 23 October.

In a statement, Basescu said the two countries are now making "final changes" to the agreement. He said the possible locations for the base included Babadag, Constanta, or Fetesti, in the east.

Hadley confirmed that significant progress had been made on the accord.

He also hailed the relationship between Washington and Bucharest. More than 800 Romanian soldiers are currently in Iraq and some 500 more in Afghanistan.

(AFP)