ROMANIA: BASESCU DISPUTES SPECULATION ON POSSIBLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000628

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE - WSILKWORTH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL SOCI RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA: BASESCU DISPUTES SPECULATION ON POSSIBLE
U.S. UNILATERAL ACTION; SENATE MOVES TO RATIFY DEFENSE
COOPERATION AGREEMENT


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


1. (SBU) During a nationally televised interview on April
16, President Traian Basescu stated that the U.S. would not
be able to launch an attack from Romanian territory without
prior GOR approval. He characterized as "exaggerated" press
reports that the U.S. could attack a third country from
Romanian territory without GOR approval, pursuant to the
U.S.-Romanian Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA),currently
awaiting parliamentary ratification. Basescu stressed during
the interview that Romania will have "command" of the
Romanian military facilities used by American troops, which
"are on Romanian territory." Responding to a question from
the interviewer about whether he would agree to the
"placement of nuclear arms on Romanian territory," Basescu
rejoined that he categorically "excluded" this possibility.
Basescu also underscored in response to a question that the
presence of U.S. troops in Romania near the Black Sea coast
would not harm Romania-Russia bilateral relations. He noted
that he was "the first to inform" Russian President Putin in
February 2005 that Romania would host the facilities, which
he said would have been "problematic" if they were NATO
bases. He added in the interview that Romania is trying to
protect its interests in the Black Sea region without harming
those of Russia and Turkey. The questions regarding the
military facilities came toward the end of a lengthy and
wide-ranging discussion between Basescu and one of Romania's
most prominent journalists, Bogdan Chireac.


2. (C) Separately, Senate Defense Committee Chairman George
Cristian Maior (PROTECT) told PolMilOff April 11 that he and
his colleagues in the former ruling Social Democratic Party
(PSD) "don't see any problem" with ratification of the DCA
and "we are trying to do this before (Orthodox) Easter",
which is April 23. Maior stated that the Defense Committee
would conduct hearings jointly with the Foreign Affairs
Committee, although the Defense Committee "has the lead."
According to Maior, Senate Foreign Affairs Committee
President Geoana (ex-FM, PSD President) would like to have
(Foreign Minister) Ungureanu testify, but Ungureanu had been
out of the country. Maior underscored that he anticipated
few problems with ratification, following joint hearings,
debate and vote.


3. (C) Comment. Maior's prediction of parliamentary
ratification by the end of this week may be optimistic, given
the normally relaxed pace of public life in the week
preceding Orthodox Easter. Although our usual interlocutors
confidently predict ratification of the DCA, given the
agreement's broad, bipartisan support, this does not rule out
pointed questions directed at Ungureanu during the joint
Senate Defense/Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. A lively
debate on the floor of parliament is also a possibility.
Some MPs may assert that Romania did not negotiate terms as
favorable as those reportedly under discussion between the
U.S. and Bulgaria, as has been suggested by some local media
outlets. In addition, the case of the former Embassy Marine
Guard Detachment Commander, whose 2004 automobile accident
resulted in the death of a popular Romanian musician, will
likely be another point of reference in any parliamentary
discussion. End Comment.


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