ROMANIA SUPPORTS U.S. STATEMENT ON IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000928 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP IR RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA SUPPORTS U.S. STATEMENT ON IRAN REF: SECSTATE 87682 Classified By: DCM MARK TAPLIN FOR REASONS 1.5 (B),(D),and (F). ¶1. (C) PolChief discussed reftel demarche on joining dialogue with Iran with the Foreign Minister's Chief of Staff Cornel Feruta on May 31, the FM being unavailable. Feruta promised that the GOR would issue a statement in support of the U.S. position. PolOff followed up June 1 with senior MFA officials to confirm that a statement was forthcoming. The MFA issued a statement June 1 that expressed support for the U.S. move and encouraged Iran to respond positively in order to resolve the issues through diplomatic channels. Informal Embassy translation of MFA statement follows below. ¶2. (U) Begin informal Embassy translation of MFA statement: June 1, 2006 "The MFA Salutes the Availability of the USA to Associate itself with the EU-3 in Dialogue with Iran" The Ministry of Foreign Affairs salutes the availability of the USA, as expressed by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on May 31, 2006, to associate itself with the EU-3 (Great Britain, France, Germany) in dialogue with Iran, to bring to an end the present impasse on negotiations on nuclear matters. The MFA expresses the hope that the Iranian authorities will analyze in a constructive manner this proposal and will give a positive response. The MFA considers that the new proposed formula could offer a real perspective to create a propitious framework which would lead to a definitive solution, through diplomatic channels, to these issues. End Informal Translation. TAUBMAN