ROMANIA: PLANS FOR STOCKHOLM DONOR CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001335

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016
TAGS: PREL MOPS EAID LE RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA: PLANS FOR STOCKHOLM DONOR CONFERENCE

REF: STATE 139903 BUCHAREST 01219

Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Mark A. Taplin; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.


1. (C) Summary: Romania MFA has proposed/proposed a
&symbolic but credible8 deployment of gendarmes to support
the peace process in Lebanon, and as part of the Romanian
contribution to be made at the Stockholm donors conference.
The Prime Minister has not yet agreed to the proposal, and
there is some concern in the MFA that he will not agree.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ungureanu, currently in Brussels,
is poised to announce a Romanian contribution, that will help
maintain Bucharest's good standing with Brussels and
Washington simultaneously. End Summary.


2. (C) There remains some uncertainty in what Romania can do
in support of the international effort to stabilize and
promote peace in Lebanon (ref a). There appears to be
sufficient legislative support (ref b),and the MFA wants to
do something that keeps Romania in view as good partners with
the US and as a sound EU membership prospect. It seems that
there is some hesitancy at higher levels to make a definitive
commitment right now, but the MFA confirms that we can expect
some contribution, probably at the 11th hour.


3. (C) The MFA Director for Middle East and Africa told
Deputy Pol Chief that an inter-agency meeting on Romania's
participation in the August 31 Donors Conference in Sweden
and to decide on Romania's contribution, had been postponed
until August 30. She did not expect the MFA would be able to
attend the Stockholm conference at a senior level, and in all
likelihood Romania would be represented through the Embassy.


4. (C) Following up, Deputy Pol Chief raised visibility
issues with DG Political Affairs Dranga. He, too, was
concerned that the Prime Minister may not accept the MFA
proposal to send a contingent of gendarmes as a &symbolic
but credible8 contribution. But, he added, he would make
another push since the U.S. was sending a strong delegation.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ungureanu is attending a special
EU General Affairs Council meeting where this issue will be
raised, and it was possible, Dranga suggested, that Ungureanu
could announce the proposed Romanian contribution at that
time.


5. (C) Comment: The diplomatic tempo will increase as
Romania prepares for its expected final &green light8 for
entry into the EU. This could make officials a bit more
cautious on navigating between their EU commitments, what
they perceive as EU Common Foreign and Security Policy
direction, and Bucharest's unambiguous desire to keep
Washington close and happy. The bottom line is that Romania
will likely make some contribution to help in Lebanon, but it
may take a bit longer for them to decide exactly what that
contribution will be. End Comment.
Taplin