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