ROMANIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON ENCOURAGING

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000984

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL PHUM RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON ENCOURAGING
PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES

REF: STATE 66867


1. (U) This is an action request - see para 5.


2. (U) PolChief delivered April 18 the demarche on
constructive participation in the Santiago Community of
Democracies (CD) Conference to Steluta Arhire, MFA Director
for the OSCE and Human Rights (reftel). PolChief expressed
strong appreciation for Romanian leadership within the
Community of Democracies, which included hosting the CD
Regional conference on civil society in Bucharest in 2003 and
the recent organization and leadership of a CD delegation to
Georgia. PolChief encouraged potential Romanian initiatives
in Chile, possibly building on these efforts.


3. (SBU) Arhire expressed appreciation for the information
provided in our demarche and noted that the Romanian
delegation would be led by Romania's Ambassador to Geneva.
Regrettably, Foreign Minister Ungureanu will be occupied with
Romania's EU accession treaty scheduled to be signed on April

25. At the same time, Arhire noted disappointment about what
she called "apparent Chilean disregard" for the Bucharest
regional conference and the delegation to Georgia. She said
that she had already raised this with the Chilean Embassy in
Bucharest. Notably, Chile had failed to include on the CD
conference website any mention of these efforts, which she
said could serve as models for other CD projects. She
expressed continued strong GOR support for the CD process,
and asked that the U.S. help in ensuring Romania's regional
initiatives were included in the program in Santiago. Arhire
also confided that it had been difficult for her and others
to convey to Romania's new government the importance the U.S.
and others ascribe to the CD process. She said she would
relate to FM Ungureanu that Secretary Rice would be attending
the Santiago conference, which would highlight the fact that
this is a priority for the U.S.


4. (SBU) PolChief again underscored USG appreciation for
Romania's leadership in the CD process, noting that Under
Secretary for Global Affairs Dobriansky discussed CD issues

SIPDIS
thoroughly with former FM Geoana during her trip to Bucharest
in October. Strengthening Democracy is also an important
component in our bilateral discussions on regional approach
to the Black Sea, and both the Georgia mission and regional
CD conference had been repeatedly raised in this regard.
PolChief committed to convey Arhire's concerns to the
Department.


5. (SBU) Action Request: Post requests any feedback we may
provide the GOR on including Romanian initiatives on the
agenda in Santiago. Romania has indeed been a proactive and
constructive member of the CD. We seek to reverse some
sentiment in the MFA that their efforts are not being
recognized.
DELARE