Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUCHAREST1266
2007-11-08 16:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:  

ROMANIAN PREPARATIONS FOR NATO SUMMIT (C-RE7-02147)

Tags:  PGOV PREL NATO RO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0026
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBM #1266/01 3121604
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081604Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7590
INFO RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 1213
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001266 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN PREPARATIONS FOR NATO SUMMIT (C-RE7-02147)

REF: SECSTATE 153634

Classified By: DCM Mark Taplin for 1.4 (b) and (d)

Responses to query from Washington analysts are keyed to
reftel questions:

Logistical and Security Preparations:
-------------------------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001266

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN PREPARATIONS FOR NATO SUMMIT (C-RE7-02147)

REF: SECSTATE 153634

Classified By: DCM Mark Taplin for 1.4 (b) and (d)

Responses to query from Washington analysts are keyed to
reftel questions:

Logistical and Security Preparations:
--------------


1. (C) The GOR has appointed Ambassador Victor Micula, the
Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Ministry, as overall
NATO Summit coordinator. He has assembled an interagency task
force with a core group currently of around 25 individuals
representing a range of agencies. These include specialists
in IT/communications, media, security, protocol, procurement,
legal issues, registry/credentials, transportation and other
areas. According to Micula, this core team will increase to
some 35 individuals at year's end, surging to a planned 250
individuals two weeks prior to the Summit date. In addition
to the interagency task force, an operations center has been
established at the summit site--the Parliament Palace--by the
Service for Protection and Guarding (SPP). The center is a
senior interagency cell with decisionmaking authority
representing the MOD, MFA, Interior, Police/Gendarmes, and
Security Services. The command center provides real-time
video surveillance coverage of major Bucharest streets from
the airports to the Parliament Palace, and can coordinate
information from telecommunications, GPS tracking, and other
sources as well. A second command and control cell has been
established nearby to monitor and track all utilities
(electricity, gas, water) and other critical infrastructure.


2. (C) The Summit Conference site is reputedly the second
largest building in the world, measuring some 350,000 square
meters; it is 12 stories tall, with 8 underground levels,
with some 1100 rooms. It was designed by then-President
Ceaucescu to house his entire government, and therefore the
security and command/control arrangements are both robust and
well-integrated into the design of the building and
surrounding streets.

Primary Areas of Concern:
--------------


3. (C) Transportation and hotel accommodations are high on
the list of concerns for both the host and NATO member

states. The GOR is cognizant of the need to build extra
capacity rather than to draw on the existing rental vehicle
resources. Their stated aim is to assemble a fleet of some
3000 vehicles to support the summit. To this end, they have
instituted a policy of not retiring current vehicles from GOR
fleets while continuing with replacement cycles, so that old
vehicles will be retired only after the summit. In addition,
the GOR has negotiated with BMW, Mercedes Benz, Ford, and
Audi/VW to bring additional vehicles to Romania on loan,
including armored vehicles from BMW and Mercedes. A cadre of
cleared drivers with a knowledge of English and French are
also a requirement, and the GOR plans to draw on the
military, interior ministry, and security services to provide
drivers. Micula told Embassy personnel that he plans to build
in a reserve of around ten percent to deal with contingencies
including illnesses, accidents, and no-shows. Drivers will
also be trained/screened for their abilities to handle
high-speed motorcades and other VIP support requirements.


4. (C) Business-class hotel accommodations will be in short
supply, especially in the secure areas within the summit
security perimeter. The MFA has contracted for a "cartel"
arrangement with one travel agency, Vacanta, being designated
the single point of contact for negotiating rooms. This has
provoked severe criticism from NATO member states, the NATO
international staff, and from other institutions involved in
the summit, as hotels have increased their prices on average
60 percent, with single rooms being offered for as much as
1000 euros per night. Post is working closely with A/PTS and
USNATO to ensure the best available options for the USG.


5. (C) Another area of concern is the budgeting process.
The 2008 budget has not been submitted/approved by
parliament, and will likely not be addressed until after the
November 25 European Parliament election, hampering summit
procurement efforts. The Democratic Party (PD) has indicated
that it will almost certainly oppose the government budget
package when comes to parliament. Ambassador Micula
indicated that one of his concerns with the budget is that
the Interior Ministry has submitted requirements for
anti-riot gear (including water cannons) that were unrelated
to the NATO summit. In addition, Micula claimed that delays
from the NATO International Staff in providing plans for the
summit (and continuing debate over just what events will
comprise the summit program) have also complicated getting a
detailed budget to the Finance Ministry and the Prime
Minister in a timely manner. Micula added, however, that the
GOR is now operating under the assumption that some events
still not agreed to by the Alliance (an EAPC event, for
example) will take place, in order to provide for this
contingency.


6. (C) Finally, the fact that Ambassador Micula is
double-hatted as both summit coordinator and as Romania's
primary negotiator for CFE and other arms control matters is
an area of concern. Micula has told poloffs that his
original intention was to enlist an experienced high-level
political figure (a former State Secretary, for example) was
not possible given the rivalries between the President, Prime
Minister, and Defense and Foreign Ministers, hence his
decision to assemble a "technocratic" staff that can better
operate under the political radar. His staff, however, is
relatively junior and generally lacks experience. We have
urged senior officials in the Presidency and the PM's office
to appoint a strong deputy to Micula -- perhaps a ranking
officer from the Ministry of Defense -- who could focus
full-time on the all-important organization and logistics of
the summit.

Requests to NATO for Summit Support:
--------------


7. (C) We understand that the Romanian NATO Permrep,
Ambassador Ducaru, has raised within the NAC a request for
air policing, combat air patrols, and aerial surveillance
(AWACS) aircraft. The Romanian military has informally
requested USG supply fighter aircraft for the duration of the
summit, but we have responded that this needs to be handled
through NATO channels, not on a bilateral basis. USAFE
Ramstein is aware of Romania's NATO requirements, and a
project officer has been assigned. We do not expect the
Romanians to request helicopter support from NATO as they
have their own indigenous helicopter assets, the IAR 330
(Puma class),which have been deployed in the Western
Balkans. Similarly, Romanian counter-terrorist assets,
including US-trained special forces, are first-rate.

Romania's Policy for Handling Rogue Aircraft:
--------------


8. (C) Romania will utilize its existing MAOC to provide
command and control of its airspace. The air operations
center is a well-established facility that has been tested in
terms of interoperability with AWACS and other NATO assets.
However, Romanian authorities have yet to work out airspace
control issues on a regional basis, especially with
neighboring states including Hungary and Bulgaria, and
Embassy DAO has been active in encouraging the Romanians to
do so. This is significant as it takes less than a half hour
to cross Romanian airspace.

Other Security Measures:
--------------


9. (C) As noted, the SPP (not the Ministry of Interior, as
suggested in reftel query) will be coordinating the summit
security arrangements, with the SPP Director (with the rank
of Deputy Minister) reporting directly to the President.
Romanian security assets are robust, well-funded, and capable.

Resources from the Armed Forces
--------------


10. (C) At present, the NATO Summit Task force has
specifically identified the military role in providing air
cover and other security detail to the summit as needed. In
addition, the military will be tapped to provide drivers and
other manpower in support of the summit. We understand, too,
that the Media Operations section of the summit task force
will include detailees from the MOD.

Foreign CI Efforts
--------------


11. (C) This will be reported through separate channels.
GOR contacts have noted heightened activities by Russian,
Chinese, and Iranian intelligence services.
TAUBMAN