Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUCHAREST292
2007-03-13 16:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:
CLUSTER MUNITIONS BACK ON THE TABLE
how-toVZCZCXRO4108 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHBM #0292 0721633 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131633Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6248 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 2218 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000292
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE JENSEN AND FOR PM/WRA -- KATHERINE BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2012
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO IS RO
SUBJECT: CLUSTER MUNITIONS BACK ON THE TABLE
REF: A. BUCHAREST 113
B. STATE 6667
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Tanoue for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000292
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE JENSEN AND FOR PM/WRA -- KATHERINE BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2012
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO IS RO
SUBJECT: CLUSTER MUNITIONS BACK ON THE TABLE
REF: A. BUCHAREST 113
B. STATE 6667
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Tanoue for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
).
1. (C) MFA Director for Non-Proliferation, Arms Control, and
Combating Terrorism Mihaela Vasiu on March 9, cautioned
POLMILOFF that Romania will revisit its decision not to
associate the GOR with the Conference on Cluster Munitions.
Vasiu said that the GOR's decision to send a relatively low
level representative (a working-level expert from the MOD's
armaments division) to the February 22-23 Oslo meeting is
being reassessed by the MFA following harsh criticism from
other EU member states, especially the UK. Vasiu also noted
that both the MOD and MFA had been under the impression that
the UK delegation would be led at Oslo by its MOD (note: the
GOR felt the UK MOD was sympathetic to their position.).
They subsequently learned that London made a switch to the
FCO at the last minute.
2. (C) Vasiu explained that the earlier decision to send
someone from the MOD was agreed principally because the MFA
was unable to reach a policy consensus at the time. She
observed that Romania's abstention from associating with the
Oslo Conference's Final Declaration also can be attributed to
outstanding MOD contract commitments on cluster munitions
with Israel.
3. (C) Vasiu confirmed that the MFA is bowing to EU
pressure, and is prepared to propose that Romania associate
itself with the Conference on Cluster Munitions for the
follow on meetings later this year. Vasiu said the MFA and
MOD have been tasked to draft separate position papers to
present to the Inter-Ministry Commission later this month,
where the two ministries can work out a joint recommendation
for the GOR.
4. (C) Comment: MFA interlocutors insist that the current
political turmoil and the absence of a foreign minister is
not affecting the conduct of foreign policy; everything is
business as usual. However, one could make an argument that
the MOD led by U.S.-friendly Minister Sorin Frunzaverde, who
is more aligned to President Basescu, may have had the upper
hand this time over an MFA that is being directed, de facto,
by a State Secretary. The MFA is more EU-sensitive than the
MOD as seen by the flip-flop on the Cluster Munitions policy.
Without a large U.S. presence in Oslo, and with the news
that the UK MOD would not have the lead on the issue, Romania
may have felt uncomfortably exposed diplomatically, which
triggered reevaluation of the policy. End Comment.
TAUBMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE JENSEN AND FOR PM/WRA -- KATHERINE BAKER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2012
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO IS RO
SUBJECT: CLUSTER MUNITIONS BACK ON THE TABLE
REF: A. BUCHAREST 113
B. STATE 6667
Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Tanoue for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
).
1. (C) MFA Director for Non-Proliferation, Arms Control, and
Combating Terrorism Mihaela Vasiu on March 9, cautioned
POLMILOFF that Romania will revisit its decision not to
associate the GOR with the Conference on Cluster Munitions.
Vasiu said that the GOR's decision to send a relatively low
level representative (a working-level expert from the MOD's
armaments division) to the February 22-23 Oslo meeting is
being reassessed by the MFA following harsh criticism from
other EU member states, especially the UK. Vasiu also noted
that both the MOD and MFA had been under the impression that
the UK delegation would be led at Oslo by its MOD (note: the
GOR felt the UK MOD was sympathetic to their position.).
They subsequently learned that London made a switch to the
FCO at the last minute.
2. (C) Vasiu explained that the earlier decision to send
someone from the MOD was agreed principally because the MFA
was unable to reach a policy consensus at the time. She
observed that Romania's abstention from associating with the
Oslo Conference's Final Declaration also can be attributed to
outstanding MOD contract commitments on cluster munitions
with Israel.
3. (C) Vasiu confirmed that the MFA is bowing to EU
pressure, and is prepared to propose that Romania associate
itself with the Conference on Cluster Munitions for the
follow on meetings later this year. Vasiu said the MFA and
MOD have been tasked to draft separate position papers to
present to the Inter-Ministry Commission later this month,
where the two ministries can work out a joint recommendation
for the GOR.
4. (C) Comment: MFA interlocutors insist that the current
political turmoil and the absence of a foreign minister is
not affecting the conduct of foreign policy; everything is
business as usual. However, one could make an argument that
the MOD led by U.S.-friendly Minister Sorin Frunzaverde, who
is more aligned to President Basescu, may have had the upper
hand this time over an MFA that is being directed, de facto,
by a State Secretary. The MFA is more EU-sensitive than the
MOD as seen by the flip-flop on the Cluster Munitions policy.
Without a large U.S. presence in Oslo, and with the news
that the UK MOD would not have the lead on the issue, Romania
may have felt uncomfortably exposed diplomatically, which
triggered reevaluation of the policy. End Comment.
TAUBMAN