On the occasion of the three-decade anniversary since the reorganization of the “Neagoe Basarab” 26th Infantry Battalion, the president of the PNL, Nicolae Ciucă, held a speech on Friday, September 13, in which he claimed that the new equipment with which the Romanian Army was endowed gives it “a trace of hope”.
Ciucă was the commander of Battalion 26 between 2001-2004. PHOTO Mediafax (Archive)
“For a good period of time, the Romanian Army did not benefit from the necessary funding to be able to have a coherent rhythm of equipment and supplies. Starting with 2015-2017, we began to feel the effects of a budget that would allow us to talk about technique, about new equipment, about a different way of thinking, of planning everything related to the evolution of the Romanian Army. (…) Before the endowment, we talked a lot about interoperability: there was an interoperability of the procedures, there was an interoperability of the way we thought, but from the point of view of the endowment and the way of action we could not achieve this desired. Here, today, with the entry into the equipment of these combat vehicles, the Patriot systems, the Himars systems, the F-16 planes, the other equipment that is in the equipment and that will be in the equipment, it gives us a hint of hope that the Army Romania can achieve consolidated capabilities and can truly fulfill its sacred duty of defending the country, of ensuring, of ensuring everything that means the safety of Romanian citizens“, transmitted Nicolae Ciucă, who held the position of commander of the 26th Infantry Battalion “Neagoe Basarab” from February 2001 to October 2004.
“I came to relive the emotion”
The president of the National Liberal Party also brought to attention some moments from the time he spent at this battalion.
“I am very happy that today I am again in the midst of the family of the 26th Battalion “Neagoe Basarab” and I will allow myself, Mr. General, to use the phrase so well known in the Romanian Army, and not only, “Red Scorpions”, for that it is a very easily recognizable symbol and everywhere I have been in the world, those I have met have remembered that they were together on missions in the theaters of operations, in the 14 external missions, on the three continents. I came with emotion to express my gratitude for everything that the 26th Infantry Battalion “Neagoe Basarab” meant to me, for all of us who are here today, in uniform, active and in reserve, with gratitude for those who laid the foundations this unit 30 years ago, and it really wasn’t easy at the time. I came to relive the emotion when we came here on the alley and saw the General Staff, when we came every morning in front of the battalion and for a good period of time, when it rained, because the entire plateau was not paved, we struggled to carry out the specific ceremony in the morning with the singing of the anthem and the raising of the flag, I came to remember all that happened when the 26th Infantry Battalion “Neagoe Basarab” was nominated as a component of the strategic reserve for SFOR and KFOR and what were the efforts at the level of the General Staff. (…) I remember all our disputes and discussions on acronyms, on phrases, on their understanding, and when the disputes reached a certain level, Daniel Ene would come, may God forgive him, who went to God shortly after followed, and said “Come on, let’s open the library of Alexandria” and there we would clarify”said the president of the Senate.
“They were my second family”
Also, in a post made on Facebook, the PNL leader revealed that he will never forget the fact that he is “red scorpion“.
“With nostalgia, but also unspeakable joy, I participated in the 30th anniversary of the reorganization of the 26th Infantry Battalion «Neagoe Bessarabia»which I had the honor to lead. I have many memories of this battalion and my comrades in arms, «The red scorpions»who were my second family. I was glad to see that those who are no longer active came with the same liveliness as I knew them.
I will never forget that I am «red scorpion». I am proud to say that, no matter where I go and what decisions I make, I keep the same values and the same desire to serve Romania, with honor and faith.
I thank everyone in the battalion for their service, both active, reserve and retired. Happy birthday, health and have easy missions!”, it is shown in the relevant post.
