Minister of National Defence Adrian Tutuianu deemed, on Saturday, as “absolutely inappropriate” the reaction of Russian deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, after Romania denied his plane entry and permission to fly over its airspace.

Asked how he deems the grave reaction of the Russian official, Tutuianu declared: “Absolutely inappropriate, to put it mildly”.

The Minister of National Defence added that he has followed the statements of the Russian ambassador to Romania, “who attempts to justify some types of actions they promote in the area.”

The Minister also mentioned that the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs can give an appropriate answer in this matter, and he can speak from the perspective of national defence.

“I will tell you today what I said in our previous meetings – the security situation in the Black Sea region forces us to consolidate the Eastern Flank of the Alliance, the make the right acquisitions to equip the Romanian Army,” the Minister of Defence explained.

Asked if there are reasons for fear or the statements of the Russian official are mere words, Adrian Tutuianu said: “I would not enter this type of rhetoric, I believe that we should mind our business, ensure economic development and, at the same time, do what is necessary in order to be as secure as possible and discourage certain hostile actions. When we discussed Patriot missiles I said that they represent both an element consolidating Romania’s national security, but also an element to discourage possible aggressive actions. I don’t think we need to make this a discussion, we would be in the wrong attempting to escalate by all sorts of statements the statements made by others. I believe it’s wise to mind our business and see to our program.”

The Defence Minister has made the statements on the occasion of celebrations for the Day of the National Anthem.

Romania barred the plane containing Russian deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin from entering Romanian airspace, said, on Friday, for AGERPRES, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that the reasons for the decision cannot be detailed. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin was traveling, on Friday, towards Chisinau.

Dmitry Rogozin commented, on Friday, on Twitter, the decision of the Romanian authorities to not allow the plane to transit Romanian airspace, saying that Romania endangered the passengers of the ship and must expect an answer.

‘Romania’s authorities subjected the passengers of the S7 plane – women and children. Fuel was sufficient to reach Minsk. Expect an answer, vermin,’ Rogozin wrote on his Twitter account.