ROMANIA: PROPOSED FY2005 SOLIDARITY FUND

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 001530 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS PARM PREL MOPS MARR RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA: PROPOSED FY2005 SOLIDARITY FUND ALLOCATIONS REF: STATE 120737 ¶1. PolChief discussed Coalition Solidarity Fund (CSF) allocation of $17,000,000 to Romania with MFA NATO Division Director Mirela Maghiar and other MFA interlocutors on June ¶30. Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) also discussed the allocation July 1 with Ion-Mircea Plangu, MOD State Secretary and Chief of the Department for Euro- Atlantic Integration and Defense Policy. In both meetings, GOR interlocutors expressed appreciation for the allocation and promised to provide further details about intended uses for the funds. ¶2. ODC received July 7 a letter from the Ministry of Defense outlining the MOD's policy priorities and providing a breakdown of how it proposes to spend the $17,000,000 allocation. The complete text of the letter follows. BEGIN TEXT: Ministry of National Defense Department for EuroAtlantic Integration and Defense Policy Bucharest, Romania July 07, 2005 Office of Defense Cooperation US Embassy, Bucharest The Department for EuroAtlantic Integration and Defense Policy presents its compliments to the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation. The purpose of this letter is to give you an update on MoND's policy priorities about the military capabilities to be strengthened, for the near and medium term future. These are the following: ¶1. Military Intelligence ¶2. Black Sea Surveillance ¶3. Airlift - C-130 logistic support ¶4. Special Forces ¶5. Defense Reform The Spending Plan for the $17 million supplement from the Coalition Solidarity Fund, reflecting the here above priorities, is estimated as follows: - UAV SHADOW 200 $ 8.00 M - HUMINT Training and Equipment $ 1.40 M - SCOMAR $ 1.00 M - C130 Support $ 3.00 M - Special Forces: HMMWVs $ 2.60 M - Defense Reform $ 1.00 M TOTAL $17.00 M The Department for EuroAtlantic Integration and Defense Policy avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of its highest consideration. [signed] Ion Mircea Plangu State Secretary for Defense Policy and EuroAtlantic Integration END TEXT TAPLIN