IRAQ: ROMANIA OPEN TO CHANGES IN ITS MISSION

S E C R E T BUCHAREST 001405

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/ISO, PM/RSAT, PM/PMAT, NEA/I, AND EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2015
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ UK RO
SUBJECT: IRAQ: ROMANIA OPEN TO CHANGES IN ITS MISSION
RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON ENGAGING THE IRAQ COALITION

REF: STATE 111082

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


1. (S) On June 15, PolChief and DATT, along with British DCM
delivered talking points on the U.S. Iraq strategy after Iraq
elections to Stelian Stoian, MFA Director General for the
Middle East and Global Affairs; Mihaela Matei, MOD Strategic
Affairs Directorate Head; and Andreea Pastarnac, Director of
the MFA Middle East and Africa Division.


2. (S) Stoian underscored that Romania -- at the highest
political levels -- remains committed to maintaining troops
in Iraq "until the job is done." This has been stated
repeatedly by President Train Basescu, Prime Minister Calin
Popescu-Tariceanu, and other senior officials. Stoian said
Romania remains "very open" to a discussion on a potential
change of mission or an adjustment to its current mission and
would like to hear more specific ideas from the U.S. on this.
He noted given that Romania has recently committed
additional troops to Afghanistan, the GOR would have to
consider carefully the costs of changes to the mission in
Iraq -- "we are already stretched financially."


3. (S) Stoian said Romania remains committed to contributing
to the coalition in the most effective manner possible and
looks forward to a renewed dialogue with the U.S. on this.
He said the GOR would also begin an internal discussion on
what kind of contribution it should make to the new coalition
strategy in Iraq.


4. (S) Matei raised during the June 15 meeting, and again
with PolMil Officer during a June 17 meeting, several issues
regarding the MNF-I's concept of embedding teams within the
Iraqi military, and in some cases, special police and border
units. She underscored that "there must be a single concept
and coordination of rules of engagement regarding embedded
teams and operational adjustments." She added that there
should be coordination with SHAPE regarding both adjustments
and embedded teams. Matei continued that a number of
questions need to be answered regarding ROE and embedded
teams, including whether embedded teams "are organized the
same way throughout the coalition." Matei noted that
Romanian troops currently serve in the Italian brigade under
UK command. "How will the UK and Italians deal with embedded
teams?" She concluded by stressing the importance of
"harmonizing" ROE.


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