HC Deb 13 July 1976 vol 915 cc127-8W
47. Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the visit of the Romanian Defence Minister to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Mason

Yes. Colonel General Coman, the Romanian Minister of National Defence, visited this country at my invitation from 22nd to 26th June. This was the first time that a Romanian Defence Minister has come to this country since World War II and is one of a number of visits by Romanian Ministers since the signing of the Joint Declaration in September 1975 by the then Prime Minister and President Ceausescu in Bucharest. In return, British Ministers have visited Romania.

We had a useful exchange of views, in the course of which we reaffirmed our wish to see a further reduction of tension in Europe. General Coman also met my right hon. Friends the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

In the course of his visit General Coman toured a number of defence establishments and the Rolls-Royce factory where the engine for the Romanian/Yugoslav "Jurom" aircraft is being manufactured.

General Coman and I agreed that his visit contributed to the further development of mutual understanding between our two countries.