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Romania's Anti-Terrorist Brigade Extends 2007, Pp ROMANIA’S ANTI - TERRORISM CAPABILITIES: TRANSFORMATION, COOPERATION, EFFECTIVENESS Florina Cristiana MATEI Lecturer, Center for Civil-Military Relations (CCMR) Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Monterey, CA, USA Fighting terrorism effectively is not a new security responsibility for the security forces in Romania. Terrorism has been a menace to Romania’s national security before 1989, and for years during the Communist regime, Securitate’s anti-terrorist elite force’s acumen had averted terrorist attacks. Yet, Cold War terrorism is dif- ferent from Twenty-First Century terrorism. What changed after the fall of the Iron Curtain, and chiefl y after the atrocious terrorist attacks in the United States (US) on September 11, 2001 (9/11), was the lethality and virulence of terrorists’ intents and goals. Attacks in the US, Spain, Great Britain, and others urged Romania (as much as other countries) transform its overall security system to be able to fi ght terrorism and terrorist networks, as well as other asymmetric security threats and challenges, effectively and collaboratively. This paper reviews Romania’s security system post-Cold War transformation, in pursuit of effectively averting, countering and combating terrorism. Key words: Romania’s anti-terrorism, Romania’s anti-terrorism cooperation, Romania’s counter-terrorism reform, South Eastern Europe’s anti-terrorism, South Eastern Europe’s security cooperation. 1. INTRODUCTION (US) on September 11, 2001 (9/11), was the lethality and virulence of Fighting terrorism effectively terrorists’ intents and goals. Attacks is not a new security responsibility in the US, Spain, Great Britain, and for the security forces in Romania. others urged Romania (as much as Terrorism has been a menace to other countries) transform its overall Romania’s national security before security system to be able to fi ght 1989 [1], and for years during the terrorism and terrorist networks, as Communist regime, Securitate’s well as other asymmetric security anti-terrorist elite force’s acumen threats and challenges, effectively [2] had averted terrorist attacks. Yet, and collaboratively. This paper Cold War terrorism is different from reviews Romania’s security system Twenty-First Century terrorism. post-Cold War transformation, What changed after the fall of the Iron in pursuit of effectively averting, Curtain, and chiefl y after the atrocious countering and combating terrorism. terrorist attacks in the United States 2. ROMANIA’S SECURITY 4. REFORM AND INSTITUTIONS TRANSFORMATION TO FIGHT TERRORISM Romania’s security forces include the armed forces (army, navy, air Fighting terrorism effectively force) under the Ministry of Defense calls for a modern, agile, resilient, and (MOD), police forces (gendarmerie, multi-tasking security system. To this border, etc.) under the Ministry of end, especially after 9/11, Romania Administration and Internal Affairs, has channeled its countering and and six [3] intelligence agencies. combating terrorism efforts toward improved terrorism prevention, 3. TERRORIST THREAT counter-terrorism intervention, TO ROMANIA'S SECURITY and consequence management capabilities. These endeavors have Terrorism does not pose a major enveloped, inter alia, the following: threat to Romania’s security. Yet, - a more robust anti-terrorism Romania could become a terrorist (AT) and counter-terrorism (CT) target for a variety of reasons. First is legal framework; Romania’s membership (and Eastern - effective and timely intelligence Border) in Western collective security (organization, structures, personnel institutions such as the North Atlantic [including education and training], Treaty Organization (NATO) and quality of analysis, and equipment); the European Union (EU), whose - more agile security forces, countries have often become terrorist increased information sharing, targets [4]. coordination and cooperation; - improved capabilities of tracking Second is Romania’s unstable down and weeding out any human, geographical surroundings fi nancial, logistic and operational (neighboring the Black Sea and the involvement and/or support for Balkans yet not far from the Caucasus terrorist activities; and Near East) [5]. - strengthened intervention Third is the relatively high capabilities (capturing terrorists, Muslim/Arabic representation in freeing hostages, reinstating order); Romania, which may transform it - better guard and protection into a hub for terrorist traffi c targeting capabilities and activities; civil both Romania and other countries. emergencies, public affairs, and [6] outreach activities. Fourth, even without a “direct” Muslim threat, [7] Romania’s 4.1. STRENGTHENED friendly relations with the US, the ANTI-TERRORISM implementation of the relocation of LEGAL FRAMEWORK US military bases in Romania since As mentioned earlier, terrorism 2007, and its contribution to the has long been a security concern international anti-terrorist efforts for Romania. As a result, its AT/ and peace operations could, as well, CT legal framework started to make Romania a target. develop in the early 1960s, and, as expected, has undergone some 4.2. ROMANIA’S changes after 9/11, as demanded NATIONAL SYSTEM by the new security environment, ON PREVENTING AND Romania’s determination to join COMBATING TERRORISM the international arena in averting, countering, and combating terrorism, Given the multifarious, easily as well as by the requirements of adjustable, network-style nature of NATO/EU membership. Post 9/11 the terrorist groups, it became clear legislation stipulates, besides other to the Romanian security decision provisions, increased anti-terrorism makers that effectively fi ghting powers and responsibilities for the terrorism defi nitely not be the security sector, and heightened job of one agency, but rather, the cooperation. outcome of a concerted action of a A few of the most relevant AT/ variety of security institutions. In CT laws include: all thirteen United this context, in 2001, the National Nations (UN) conventions on Supreme Defense Council (CSAT), as the strategic coordinator of anti- combating terrorism; UN Security terrorism strategies and policies, Council Resolutions 1540 (on arm designated the SRI the nation’s main proliferation and ballistic missiles), authority (technical coordinator) in 1566 (against international terrorism) AT/CT activities. The SRI is hence and 1373 (which set up the Anti- authorized to conduct independently Terrorism Committee); Government or, if needed, in cooperation and Emergency Ordinance 141/2001; coordination with other security Government Emergency Ordinance forces, anti-, counter- and combating 159/2001; Law 51/1991 on National terrorism operations.[8] During the Security; Romanian Penal Code; same year, the SRI had established Law 14/1992 (which assigned SRI a Department for Preventing and the main roles and mission with Combating Terrorism (DPCT), regard to terrorism prevention and featuring a Center of Counter-Terrorist countering); Law on the approval of Operational Coordination (CCOA) the Government Emergency 1/1999 as a permanent technical coordinator on the state of siege and state of of the interacting agencies within the emergency; Law 535/2004 on National System on Preventing and preventing and combating terrorism; Combating Terrorism (SNPCT) – Law 42/2004 on the armed forces’ an integrated structure focusing on participation in missions outside prevention and countering terrorist Romanian territory; Methodology threats, which was, at that time, of the organization and execution pending becoming operational.[9] of counter-terrorism intervention The CCOA is charged with collection, analysis, and fi eld intervention. of 2006; Strategy of information [10] In 2002 a National Strategy on communication on the prevention Preventing and Combating Terrorism and limitation of a terrorist risk and was adopted, which regulates the terrorist crisis situation, of 2007; roles of all security institutions, other strategies, doctrines, and together with a General Protocol rules. on the organization and functioning of the SNPCT.[11] The SNPCT Romanian Intelligence Service became fully [12] operational in (SRI). As previously stated, AT/ 2005 after the CSAT’s adoption of a CT transformation after 9/11 has Regulation on the Organization and started with SRI’s becoming the Functioning of the CCOA. [13] The anti-terrorism leader in the country. SNPCT is tasked with preventing and Its Department for Preventing and combating terrorism via consultative, Combating Terrorism (DPCT) is the cooperative and collaborative efforts coordinator of Romania’s domestic with additional security agencies in AT/CT efforts, charged with the Romania and foreign counterparts integrated planning, organization, abroad.[14] implementation and execution of all Each SNPCT component has as activities involving the prevention, well undergone transformation in detection, and annihilation of terrorist view of better tackling the vagaries activities and actions in the country. of the world’s current security [15] Its intelligence component is landscape. This paper will further charged with collection and analysis dwell upon the transformation of the on all national security risks, security forces’ specifi c anti-terrorism challenges and threats, including roles, missions, and capabilities. terrorism. [16] DGPCT’s operational component, the AT Brigade (BA), elite intervention unit, trained in the created on the ruins of Securitate’s U.S. at Delta bases, and in Great former Special Unit for Fighting
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