Israeli President Shimon Peres paid tribute Wednesday to six of his country's soldiers who were killed in helicopter crash in Romania as candles were lit in their memory at Bucharest's main synagogue.
"Air force soldiers are good soldiers. They are extraordinary human beings," Peres said during a memorial service attended by members of Romania's Jewish community and senior Israeli army officers.
Seven candles were lit in the synagogue in memory of the victims of last month's crash, who also included a Romanian.
An Israeli Sikorski CH-53-type helicopter was taking part in a joint exercise on July 26 when it crashed in a mountainous area close to Bran, around 140 kilometres (90 miles) north of Bucharest.
Israel Air Force chief Ido Nehushtan thanked Romania for opening its air space.
"There is only a limited number of air spaces opened to Israel and we are glad when states cooperate with us", he said.
At a press conference with his counterpart Traian Basescu, Peres said the ties between the two countries ran deep given that hundreds of thousands of Romanian Jews have emigrated to Israel.
"Romania for Israel is not just a point in geography, it is a chapter of history," said Peres, who is the first Israeli head of state to visit Romania.
Peres also praised Basescu over his stance towards Iran's nuclear programme and on the prospect of peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
"He takes a responsible position on Iran, he takes a positive position on making peace," the Israeli president told reporters.
The Romanian president said that he fully supported the sanctions recently imposed by the UN on Iran.
Washington and several European countries fear Iran is developing a nuclear arsenal under cover of its energy programme, something Tehran denies.
"Transparent negotiations between Iran and the international community are the solution," Basescu said, adding however, that in case of an open conflict "Romania will act as a loyal partner of NATO and Israel".
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
