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