Bogdan Hancu

Friday, April 28 2006 @ 06:07 AM MDT

www.daily-news.ro -- Despite the first casualty of a Romanian soldier due to a fatal blast in Iraq, politicians agree that Romanian troops should not yet be withdrawn from the war effort.

The bomb targeted a four-vehicle convoy on its way to relieve troops at the local Iraqi police station in the city of Nasiriyah, where more than 2,000 Italian troops are stationed.

One of the vehicles was destroyed, killing two Italians and one Romanian onboard as well as severely injuring other passengers. Besides the Romanian soldier, the vehicles were carrying 15 Italian Carabineers.

In addition, the Italian news agencies citing government sources, reported that one of the wounded later died, which would raise the number of dead to four.

The explosion occurred at 8.50 a.m. local time on a road southwest of Nasiriyah, when an explosives-laden car drove into the armored vehicle.

The Romanian Defense Ministry confirmed the death of the Romanian soldier and identified him as corporal Bogdan Hancu, a 28-year-old military policeman from the eastern city of Iasi based at Camp Mittica near Nasiriyah.

Hancu is Romania's first combat casualty in Iraq. Romania has 860 troops in the country as part of the multinational force.

"The airplane carrying the remains of the Romanian soldier will land on Iasi's airport on Thursday night. The Honor Guard will pay its respects and a religious service will take place in the airport. Then, the body will be placed in the military chapel in Copou Park. The burial ceremony will probably take place on Saturday," said yesterday the Iasi Prefect, Florin Ungureanu.

The Iasi City Hall announced that it is willing to offer Hancu's family all the help it needs. "We will do everything in our power to offer the family some financial aid and to help them with burial expenses," said the City Hall's spokesman Andrei Trofor.

President Traian Basescu yesterday said that the soldier's family can count on his support, adding that the people of Romania must remember Hancu as a true hero.

"The courage to be part of the Romanian troops maintaining the peace in Iraq placed Corporal Bogdan Hancu among Romania's national heroes. Such men risk their lives by acting in regions where terrorism is a daily reality," said Basescu.

Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu and Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiu also condemned the bomb attack and extended their condolences to the victim's family.

Nevertheless, both Ungureanu and Atanasiu pointed out that Romania will not withdraw its troops from Iraq as a result of the tragic accident.

"The Romanian troops currently in Iraq are in a six-month mission and they have to continue it. The situation in Iraq is unstable, and bloody attacks take place on a daily basis. The coalition's troops are often victims of such attacks, no matter their activities," said Atanasiu.

The journalists and political analysts also agreed that such attacks cannot prompt the withdrawal of the troops deployed in Iraq. Journalist Bogdan Chireac pointed out that everybody is close to death in Iraq. "There are no borders when it comes to aide, defense and rescue mission. In Iraq, everyone is in the first line of defense," stressed Chiriac.

The same idea was pointed out by political analyst Magdalena Boieangiu, who said that the coalition must not give up in front of the violence in Iraq.

The politicians, no matter if members of the ruling coalition or the opposition, seem to have the same stance on the issue: they all agree that Romania must not suddenly decide to call home its soldiers.

Liberal Deputy Viorel Oancea, who is a member of the Deputies Chamber's Defense Commission, pointed out that Romania made a promise to help the coalition forces and that it must keep its promise. "Romania has a mission and the soldiers in Iraq know the risk they are facing," said Oancea.

In addition, Oancea said that Romania can discuss with its U.S. partner an eventual withdrawal schedule.

The same idea was presented by Democratic Deputy Mihai Stanisoara, who stressed that the soldiers that have chosen to go to Iraq knew about the danger they were to face.

"No one forced those men to go to Iraq. They made a choice and I think they want to comply with their duties," added Stanisora.

As for Social Democratic Senator George Maior, member in the Senate's Defense Commission, he considers that it would be wrong for Romania to suddenly decide that its soldiers must return home.

"It would not be perceived as a positive act by the international forces," concluded Maior.

Ambassadors expressed their regrets

"I have written to the president, prime minister and minister of Defense to express my shock and deep sadness at the news of the death of a Romanian soldier in Nasiriyah, Iraq this morning. I should like to extend my condolences to the family of the dead soldier.

I have been impressed by the courage and steadfastness shown by Romanian troops who are operating in difficult conditions in Iraq. I know that the British military with whom they are working closely highly value the professionalism and dedication of their Romanian colleagues," said the British Ambassador Quinton Quayle.

U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Taubman also expressed his sorrow over the death of Hancu and saluted the courage of the Romanian soldiers deployed in Iraq.

"The Romanian Army in Iraq has served courageously in the struggle against the forces that wish to disrupt Iraq's progress towards democracy and stability. (...) We fight today because Iraq now carries the hope of freedom in a vital region of the world, and the rise of democracy will be the ultimate triumph over radicalism and terror," said Taubman, adding that he is grateful that America has "such a valiant and trustworthy ally as Romania in the war on terror."

The Italian Embassy in Bucharest also issued a press release expressing its indignation over the blast that killed three Italian soldiers and a Romanian corporal, stating that Romania and Italy have joined hands to assure peace in Iraq.

Eleven Romanian soldiers died in missions abroad in the past 15 years, but Corporal Hancu is the first Romanian soldier killed in Iraq. Until now, Romanian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Angola.

Nevertheless, this year Romanian registered another loss in Iraq, as a Corporal committed suicide.

Between 2004 and 2006, four major incidents involving Romanian troops in Iraq have taken place, but the soldiers were only injured.

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