ROMANIA'S CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR SEEBRIG DEPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001402

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2015
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL AF RO NATO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA'S CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR SEEBRIG DEPLOYMENT
TO AFGHANISTAN

REF: STATE 110073

Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF ROBERT GILCHRIST FOR REASONS 1.4
B AND D


1. (C) MFA NATO Division Director Mirela Maghiar told PolOff
in a June 16 discussion regarding Romanian support for the
South East Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) that a U.S. contribution
to SEEBRIG of USD 1 million this year as part of the Global
Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI),would constitute "useful
and instrumental support for SEEBRIG." (Reftel)
Underscoring Romanian support for the Southeast Europe
Defense Ministerial (SEDM) and SEEBRIG, Maghiar stated that
Romania has "invested a lot" in SEDM/SEEBRIG and would like
SEEBRIG to become "an operational force." She continued that
the GOR will continue to support SEEBRIG's deployment to
Afghanistan, "subject to financial limitations." Noting that
in early 2006 Romania will "assume coordination of Kabul
International Airport," she added that Romania's budgetary
constraints mean that it "can only do so much."


2. (C) MOD Strategic Affairs Directorate Head Mihaela Matei
underscored in a June 17 meeting with PolOff Romania's "clear
commitment" to support a SEEBRIG deployment to Afghanistan.
Echoing Maghiar's observations, Matei observed that
"Romania's budget is really stretched" and a SEEBRIG
deployment "financially might raise some problems...not just
with Romania but also with other SEEBRIG member states."
Matei characterized the USG provision of USD 1 million to
SEEBRIG as "very good news." She also observed that Romania
is one of the "very few NATO countries that has kept forces
in both Afghanistan and Iraq" without withdrawing or reducing
troop levels.


3. (C) Comment. Romanian expressions of concern about
budgetary limitations and deployment capacity reflect bona
fide resource restraints. Our interlocutors clearly
appreciated likely GPOI support (subject to Congressional
approval) for SEEBRIG. Romanian officials have consistently
told us that they recognize SEDM/SEEBRIG's value as a
"regional confidence building measure" but would like to see
SEEBRIG become operational. End Comment.


4. (U) Amembassy Bucharest's reporting telegrams are
available on the Bucharest SIPRNet website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/bucharest
DELARE