Bucharest, 9 January 1997 (RFE/RL) - U.S. Defense Department official Walter Slocumbe held talks in Bucharest today with Romania's new Defense Minister, Victor Babiuc. Slocumbe, under-secretary of defense for policy, also holds talks with President Emil Constantinescu and Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea.
Talks focus on Romania's prospects for NATO membership.
Romania's Deputy Defense Minister Constantin Ionescu this week said he believes Slocumbe's visit indicates Romania's chances of being included in the first round of NATO expansion have improved. He also announced that a Romanian Defense Ministry delegation will visit Washington this month.