AMBASSADOR'S MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 00031

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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BUCHAREST 000031

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STATE DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH
STATE DEPT ALSO FOR INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS MARR MASS ECON PINR MD UP IZ RO UNSC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
UNGUREANU AND DEFENSE MINISTER ATANASIU

REF: A. STATE 187 (AND PREVIOUS)


B. 04 BUCHAREST 3551

Classified By: Ambassador Jack Dyer Crouch II for Reasons 1.4 B and D


1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador January 3-4 made introductory
calls on new Foreign Minister Razvan Ungureanu and new
Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiu. Echoing a prominent theme
in President Traian Basescu's electoral campaign, both
incoming ministers expressed a firm commitment to a strong
relationship with the U.S. Ungureanu described the
center-right governing coalition as "heterogeneous," but
expected the current cabinet to remain for at least 18
months. Atanasiu said the GOR would need to examine whether
to "increase or decrease" its overseas deployments, including
in Iraq and Afghanistan. On the specific issue of UN Force
Protection in Iraq, Atanasiu stated that an infantry company
is "ready" for deployment but that UN funds available for
salary support are insufficient; he promised to provide soon
detailed information about Romanian needs for salary support
(Refs) End Summary.


2. (C) Following the December 28 parliamentary confirmation
of Romania's new government, the Ambassador met January 3-4
with Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu and Defense
Minister Teodor Atanasiu. Both ministers noted they were
still becoming acclimated to their new positions. Both also
said that over the next two weeks they would be preoccupied
with filling key slots at the sub-ministerial level to ensure
the presence of "strong staffs" they felt confident would
support the new government's direction.

FM Ungureanu: "Washington-London-Bucharest"
--------------

3. (C) FM Ungureanu emphasized to the Ambassador in his
January 3 meeting that President Basescu and the new PNL-PD
led government placed strong ties with Washington at the top
of Romania's foreign policy priorities. Ungureanu noted that
while Basescu had spoken frequently of a
"Washington-London-Bucharest axis" throughout the
presidential campaign, the inclusion of "London" was intended
primarily to present a balanced approach to the EU.
Ungureanu said the U.S. would find in him, personally, a very
frank and open interlocutor. He expressed that his previous
experience as a State Secretary at the MFA during the
1996-2000 center-right government and his previous experience
with the Stability Pact had prepared him well for his new
job.

Politics of the Coalition
--------------

4. (C) Ungureanu also provided insight on the political
mechanics of the new government, characterizing the governing
coalition as "heterogeneous" but assessing that the current
cabinet would remain "untouched" for at least 18 months. He
boiled it down to the fact that few MPs want new elections.
He similarly described what he called the new core foreign
policy team -- himself, PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, and
Presidential Counselor Andrei Plesu -- as a melting pot.
"Plesu is German trained; Tariceanu is French trained; and I
am British trained," but, he reiterated, one common
denominator was their "commitment to strong relationship with
U.S." The Ambassador asked about the role of the three new
Ministers of State, de facto Vice Premiers, in this
government. Ungureanu said that while each had been assigned
broad portfolios and ostensibly would be responsible for sets
of ministries, in reality their positions were largely for a
political purpose: to tie together the coalition. The PM is
from the National Liberal Party; and the Ministers of State
come from the ethnic Hungarian (UDMR),Humanist (PUR),and
Democratic (PD) parties. All four would be able to carry the
government's program back to the parliament and ensure
support.


5. (C) The Ambassador asked Ungureanu how he predicted the
Social Democratic Party (PSD) would behave in opposition.
Ungureanu agreed the PSD would likely be tough but he had
"few doubts" there would be any major differences over
foreign policy: "We both want good relations with the U.S.
and EU accession in 2007." He said that this was despite the
fact that the government does not have a majority on either
of the foreign affairs committees in the Parliament.
Ungureanu said the PSD would likely pick its differences over
social or economic policies, notably health care or aspects
of economic liberalization.

Moldova, Ukraine, Russia
--------------

6. (C) On politics in the region, Ungureanu opined that
Moldova "could become a problem." Romania would be watching
March elections closely. Ungureanu said President Basescu
had spoken with Ukrainian President-elect Yushchenko and that
he, himself, knows many in Yushchenko's inner-circle. He
expressed a "bit of worry" that possible PM Iulia Tymoshenko
could make relations difficult -- leaders may continue to use
issues with Romania like the Bystroe Canal and Snake Island
to rouse nationalist sentiments. The Ambassador stressed
that Romania should seek to focus relations on cooperation.
Ungureanu agreed, but qualifying that Romania could not
"leave room" for unwarranted concessions. He said the new
Romanian government realizes the potential for Romania, on
eastern edge of the EU and NATO, to play a role building
possible bridges with Kiev and even Moscow. However, with
regard to Russia, Ungureanu said he was "personally"
concerned about Russian intentions inside and outside its
borders, asserting that "few in power there are truly
interested in reform."


7. (C) Ungureanu said Romania was eagerly awaiting a decision
on possible U.S. military basing in Romania. "An
announcement could not come too soon." He saw "absolutely no
difference" on the positions of the previous government or
the new one on "this fundamental issue."

Defmin Atanasiu: A Strong Strategic Partnership
-------------- --

8. (C) Ambassador met with Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiu
January 4 in his office at the Defense Ministry. Speaking
through an interpreter, Atanasiu began the meeting by
observing that President Traian Basescu and PM Calin Popescu
Tariceanu have both stressed the importance of "strengthening
the U.S.-Romanian strategic partnership." Atanasiu stated
that the Romanian "military will play a key role" in this
process, noting that "our intention and goal is to build an
all-volunteer, professional armed forces by 2007."
Ambassador expressed support for Romania's ongoing defense
reform and stated that he and his team are working hard to
assure that cooperation between the U.S. and Romania remains
solid.


9. (C) Atanasiu observed that Romania will "continue
cooperation with the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and
the Balkans." He stated that discussions over the next
several months should examine how Romania should proceed in
regard to its overseas deployments. Romania must decide
whether to "increase or decrease" its overseas deployments
and also needs to explore which "partnership forums should be
developed." (Note: Mihaela Matei, the head of the MOD's
Strategic Affairs Directorate, told DATT in an earlier
meeting that press reports had misquoted Atanasiu and
erroneously quoted him as stating that when the mandate
of Romanian troops in Afghanistan and Iraq expires in Summer
2005, he would prefer to send only specialized intelligence
units (Ref B). Matei explained that Atanasiu had meant to
express that the GOR would explore with the U.S. the
appropriate "mix" of forces deployed so that Romania's
resources, including intelligence units, could be best
employed. End Note.)

UN Force Protection in Iraq
--------------

10. (C) On the subject of the Romanian offer of one infantry
company for UN force protection in Iraq (Refs),Atanasiu
observed that the company is "ready" but that the GOR does
not have "budget allocations" for 2005 to sustain salary
costs for the company during an overseas deployment.
Further, UN funds for salary allocations "provide about half,
or less" than Romanian law requires for salary support for
overseas deployments of this nature. He promised to provide
an "exact calculus" soon of the funds GOR needs to cover
salary costs. Ambassador observed that it would be difficult
for the UN to pay more for salary support for Romanian troops
than for troops from other nations, also noting that U.S. law
forbids payment of salaries to foreign troops. (Note: Post
will report Septel when it receives the MOD's "exact
calculus." End Note.)

The Black Sea and regional security
--------------

11. (C) In general terms, Atanasiu observed that the Black
Sea region and Caucasus region are of key strategic
importance for both Romania and the U.S. Ambassador stated
that the U.S. shares the GOR's goal of enhancing Black Sea
security, underscoring the importance of initially focusing
on concrete projects rather than prematurely attempting to
address grand regional themes. Ambassador also stressed
strong U.S. support for the development of democratic
institutions in Ukraine and Moldova, observing that Romania -
and NATO - can play a role in this process.


12. (C) Atanasiu said he would like to meet again with the
Ambassador in early February, stating also that he hopes to
visit the U.S. in the latter half of 2005 "once he has
learned his brief." Ambassador stated that when the visit
dates have been set he would help arrange meetings with
Secretary Rumsfeld and other appropriate interlocutors.

SIPDIS


13. (C) Comment: Both ministers were stark contrasts to
their predecessors. The straight-speaking and understated
Ungureanu differed remarkably from former FM Geoana. In
contrast to ebullient ex-DefMin Pascu, who conducted his
meetings with Embassy interlocutors in fluent, idiomatic
English and encouraged a "give and take" exchange of
information, Atanasiu proceeded cautiously and spoke through
a translator (although his curriculum vitae describes him as
an English speaker). Atanasiu's approach may reflect the
fact that he is still getting his sea legs: Although Atanasiu
has been a longstanding leader of the National Liberal Party
(PNL) in Transylvania, he possesses scant prior experience in
central government and only limited background in the defense
sector, having managed an arms factory for several years.
End Comment.


14. (U) Amembassy Bucharest,s reporting telegrams are
available on the Bucharest SIPRNET Website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/bucharest
CROUCH