Lavrov jokingly evades question on Russia’s alleged targeting of Romanian base

Lavrov jokingly evades question on Russia’s alleged targeting of Romanian base "Well, that’s a secret," the Russian Foreign Minister saidMOSCOW, September 27. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at a press conference following the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, has jokingly evaded a question on whether Russia still views the Romanian base in Deveselu as a target due to the American weaponry stationed there. "Well, that’s a secret," the Russian foreign minister responded with a laugh. His comment came after a journalist representing a Romanian media outlet reminded the minister of remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who once stated that the Romanian base was among Russia's targets because of the US weapons located there, and asked Lavrov whether Russia was "still targeting Romania." The situation the journalist referred to occurred about a decade ago. On May 12, 2016, then-NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at the Romanian military base in Deveselu (Olt County in the country's south, 180 kilometers from Bucharest), officially announced the operational readiness of the US Aegis missile defense system deployed there. Shortly thereafter, speaking at a press conference following talks with the Greek Prime Minister, the Russian leader stated that under these circumstances, Russia would be compelled to take countermeasures to minimize the threat posed by the deployment of US missile defense elements in Romania. Putin noted at the time that while missiles with a range of 500 km were being deployed there, their range would increase to 1,000 km within a few years. The Romanian Foreign Ministry subsequently issued a statement asserting that the missile defense agreement with the US governs the defensive nature of the Deveselu system, emphasizing that it is not directed against Russia. 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