Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUCHAREST1652
2006-10-30 08:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:
ROMANIA ON OPEN SKIES TREATY GUIDANCE AND CFE
how-toVZCZCXRO3572 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHBM #1652 3030809 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 300809Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5448 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001652
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: OSCE NATO PARM PREL KCFE RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA ON OPEN SKIES TREATY GUIDANCE AND CFE
CROSS-GROUP STATIONING, OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. STATE 158840
B. STATE 110161
C. STATE 68577
Classified By: Political Counsellor Ted Tanoue, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001652
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: OSCE NATO PARM PREL KCFE RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA ON OPEN SKIES TREATY GUIDANCE AND CFE
CROSS-GROUP STATIONING, OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. STATE 158840
B. STATE 110161
C. STATE 68577
Classified By: Political Counsellor Ted Tanoue, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (C) In an October 24 meeting with Polmiloff, MFA
Director for Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and
Counter-Terrorism Dan Neculeascu said Romania agreed with
the US position on the issue of Russia's hazardous airspace
zone Open Skies restrictions for a minimum 3,600 meter flight
ceiling (ref A). He underscored the importance that Russia
was willing to show some flexibility in addressing the issue.
However, Romania believes not only that the Russian ceiling
limits Treaty partners from fully exercising their Open Skies
rights, but also that the imposed ceiling is in fact "a
breach."
2. (C) Neculeascu said though Romania wants the CFE parties
to continue to press Russia on this issue, Romania would not
take the lead in discussions with the Russians. Instead,
Romania would gladly support other countries that do take the
lead. Romania has too many other sensitive issues (Black
Sea or flank-related) to risk further increasing tensions
with Moscow, although it is still ready to play a supporting
role. Meanwhile, Neculeascu appreciated the US invitation to
accompany its Russia Open Skies "test flight" with the
Canadians, but regretted that MFA officials were not
available at that time. The relevant office in the MOD had
also responded that it did not have sufficient advance notice
to spare anyone. Neculeascu said he hoped the US would
continue to be generous on such opportunities. He noted that
Romania was in the process of certifying an Open Skies plane
soon.
3. (C) Neculeascu also raised concerns about Russia's
strategy to bind the Alliance on defining "substantial combat
forces" and cross-group stationing issues. He expressed
appreciation for the U.S. "food for thought" paper and
proposed strategy for dealing with Russian claims regarding
the CFE Treaty (refs b and c). He said NATO allies should be
careful not to appear defensive, but should look for
opportunities for coordinated and direct response to the
Russians. Neculeascu said a response to the Russians should
not be managed out of Vienna, since he believes that would
tend to dilute the impact.
4. (C) Comment: Contacts at MFA, in particular, have been
increasingly expressing concern that Russia is becoming more
assertive in the region on a range of issues, as exemplified
by Moscow recently raising intellectual property rights
issues related to Kalishnikov rifle licensing agreements with
Romania (and Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria). Though
Bucharest is close to signing a licensing agreement with
Moscow, the MFA is still puzzling why the Russians waited so
long and what has prompted the sudden urgency. One
explanation may be Moscow's concern with the recent provision
of SA/LW to Georgia. In the run-up to the Riga summit,
Romania wants to make sure the message about Alliance unity
is loud, frequent, and clear. End Comment.
Taubman
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: OSCE NATO PARM PREL KCFE RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA ON OPEN SKIES TREATY GUIDANCE AND CFE
CROSS-GROUP STATIONING, OTHER ISSUES
REF: A. STATE 158840
B. STATE 110161
C. STATE 68577
Classified By: Political Counsellor Ted Tanoue, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (C) In an October 24 meeting with Polmiloff, MFA
Director for Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and
Counter-Terrorism Dan Neculeascu said Romania agreed with
the US position on the issue of Russia's hazardous airspace
zone Open Skies restrictions for a minimum 3,600 meter flight
ceiling (ref A). He underscored the importance that Russia
was willing to show some flexibility in addressing the issue.
However, Romania believes not only that the Russian ceiling
limits Treaty partners from fully exercising their Open Skies
rights, but also that the imposed ceiling is in fact "a
breach."
2. (C) Neculeascu said though Romania wants the CFE parties
to continue to press Russia on this issue, Romania would not
take the lead in discussions with the Russians. Instead,
Romania would gladly support other countries that do take the
lead. Romania has too many other sensitive issues (Black
Sea or flank-related) to risk further increasing tensions
with Moscow, although it is still ready to play a supporting
role. Meanwhile, Neculeascu appreciated the US invitation to
accompany its Russia Open Skies "test flight" with the
Canadians, but regretted that MFA officials were not
available at that time. The relevant office in the MOD had
also responded that it did not have sufficient advance notice
to spare anyone. Neculeascu said he hoped the US would
continue to be generous on such opportunities. He noted that
Romania was in the process of certifying an Open Skies plane
soon.
3. (C) Neculeascu also raised concerns about Russia's
strategy to bind the Alliance on defining "substantial combat
forces" and cross-group stationing issues. He expressed
appreciation for the U.S. "food for thought" paper and
proposed strategy for dealing with Russian claims regarding
the CFE Treaty (refs b and c). He said NATO allies should be
careful not to appear defensive, but should look for
opportunities for coordinated and direct response to the
Russians. Neculeascu said a response to the Russians should
not be managed out of Vienna, since he believes that would
tend to dilute the impact.
4. (C) Comment: Contacts at MFA, in particular, have been
increasingly expressing concern that Russia is becoming more
assertive in the region on a range of issues, as exemplified
by Moscow recently raising intellectual property rights
issues related to Kalishnikov rifle licensing agreements with
Romania (and Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria). Though
Bucharest is close to signing a licensing agreement with
Moscow, the MFA is still puzzling why the Russians waited so
long and what has prompted the sudden urgency. One
explanation may be Moscow's concern with the recent provision
of SA/LW to Georgia. In the run-up to the Riga summit,
Romania wants to make sure the message about Alliance unity
is loud, frequent, and clear. End Comment.
Taubman