ROMANIA -- INITIAL RESPONSE ON SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 00539

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR WLLIAM SILKWORTH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2016

TAGS: NATO MARR MOPS PGOV PREL RO IZ
SUBJECT: ROMANIA -- INITIAL RESPONSE ON SUPPORT FOR


MILTARY ADVISORY AND LIAISON TEAM (MALT) FOR NTM-I FOCE
PROTECTION

REF: STATE 46631

Classified By: CDA Mark Taplin for Reasons 1.4 (a),(b) and d)


1. (C) Further to Reftel, PolMilOff discusse with MFA NATO
Division Director Mirela Maghiar arch 28 a possible Romanian
contribution to a seen-man Military Advisory and Liaison
Team (MALT). The MALT would certify and mentor the Iraqi
Bas Defense Unit (IBDU) taking over guard responsibilities
at Ar-Rustamiyah, the site of the training facilities used by
the NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I),and would act as
IBDU's liaison with the NTM-I. PolMilOff expressed
appreciation for Romania's substantial ongoing contributions
in Iraq, adding that it was not necessary for Romania to fill
all the MALT positions, since NTM-I expects a multinational
MALT contingent. PolMilOff stressed the importance of a
rapid GOR decision since the MALT must be in-theater by April
30 to certify the IBDU.


2. (C) Maghiar stated that the GOR understood that it should
make a decision promptly and observed that "the building of a
MALT team is important for NTM-I and for ensuring its
protection by Iraqi forces by July." She continued that the
increased role of Iraqi security forces demonstrated progress
in developing Iraqi capabilities. Although Romania
"understands the importance" of establishing a MALT and has
been "fully attentive to cooperating with the U.S. on issues
related to Iraq," she expressed the "personal and preliminary
opinion that it will be very difficult" for Romania to
contribute to a MALT. She specifically cited the
"sensitivity of Romanian public opinion" toward sending more
troops to a "dangerous mission" in Iraq. She underscored
that "Romanians see other countries withdrawing their forces
from Iraq," so it would be difficult to garner support for
additional, even modest, troop contributions to Iraq.
Nonetheless, she promised to share our points within the MFA
and with the Defense Ministry.


3. (C) Comment. Despite limited resources, Romania
continues to demonstrate a willingness to go the extra mile
on a number of fronts. For example, earlier this month
Romania deployed a battalion to Kosovo and 23 persons from
the presidential guard force will deploy soon to Afghanistan
and Sudan to provide force protection for senior UN staff.
MFA and political party sources have told us that the
Romanian parliament will debate, possibly as early as next
week, ratification of the defense cooperation agreement
between the U.S. and Romania, which will permit U.S. forces
to use Romanian military facilities. Although our sources
confidently predict ratification, they also foresee a debate
on the floor of parliament. While Romania's commitment to
maintain its troop presence in Iraq remains firm, as
underscored by President Traian Basescu and senior GOR
officials both publicly and privately, this does not mean
that Romanian policy makers are eager to focus the public's
attention on Iraq at this time, even via a modest
contribution to a MALT. Recent media reports have noted the
March 25 death, by suicide, of a Romanian soldier in Iraq,
Romania's first fatality in Iraq. End Comment.


4. (U) AmEmbassy Bucharest's reporting telegrams are
available on the Bucharest SIPRNet website:
www.state.sgov.gov/eur/Bucharest
TAPLIN