ROMANIAN WEAPONS PURCHASE AND POTENTIAL MANPADS

S E C R E T BUCHAREST 001223 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2016 TAGS: PREL MASS RO SUBJECT: ROMANIAN WEAPONS PURCHASE AND POTENTIAL MANPADS DESTRUCTION REF: SECSTATE 117773 Classified By: ADCM ROGER GARNER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) On July 20, PolOff delivered to Dan Neculaescu, MFA Director for Nonproliferation and Arms Control, reftel demarche regarding GOR's weapons systems purchase and possible cooperation on surplus MANPADS destruction. On July 21 PolOffs delivered the same demarche to MOD Director for International Military Cooperation, Col. Alexandru Cotoara-Nicolae, and MOD Deputy Director for Integrated Defense Planning, Arina Danila. All three said they were unaware of the number of MANPADS Romania maintains, but cited good cooperation with the U.S. on the destruction of small arms and light weapons, and welcomed exploring whether Romania could utilize U.S. assistance in this area. Colonel Cotoara promised to forward the proposal, along with the instructions on FMS purchasing, to other departments within the MOD and reply as soon as possible. Taubman