MFA: ROMANIA IS INTERESTED IN LEADING A PRT IN

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000381 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE JENSEN AND SCA/A; KABUL FOR RODLEY AND MURPHY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PGOV SUBJECT: MFA: ROMANIA IS INTERESTED IN LEADING A PRT IN QALAT ¶1. (SBU) This is a request for guidance; see para 5. ¶2. (SBU) New Director General for Strategic Affairs, Victor Micula, accompanied by NATO Policy Deputy Director Ana Tinca, told DCM and POLMILOFF on March 28 that Romania was interested in leading a PRT in Qalat, Zabol Province (where Romania already has an infantry battalion). Micula laid out three options currently under consideration on the Romanian side (in descending order of preference). The most ambitious option would be to lead a PRT with a special emphasis on education (since Romanian specialists already had worked on curriculum development with IBE UNESCO),and also possibly including Health, Justice and Agricultural specialists. If Romania did not have sufficient resources to lead a PRT of its own, then it would want to participate in a PRT with other nations. Another option, although the "least desirable" one according to Micula, would be for Romania to focus its effort in Kabul. ¶3. (SBU) Micula said that when he was recently in Canada, he had met a NATO team that expressed interest in coming to Bucharest and helping Romania "brainstorm" on developing a PRT concept. Micula would like a team to brief select representatives from different Romanian ministries as an initial step towards fielding a PRT. He noted that the MFA needed an accurate inventory of what is required so that the GOR can estimate its capacity to deliver. Following the briefing, Romania would then prepare a fact-finding mission to go to Afghanistan in order refine the PRT assessed needs. Provided that the process does not run into any resource or conceptual obstacles, the MFA would then ask for government approval and additional resources to field a PRT. ¶4. (SBU) Micula expressed interest in developing a PRT that would build on contributions from Education, Health, Justice and Agriculture Ministries. He again noted that Romania had already helped develop educational curricula for Afghanistan through the U.N. and that three Romanian judges were also present in Kabul under European Union auspices. Micula would also like to involve Romanian agricultural expertise into opium crop replacement strategies. The MFA would be looking towards sending out its fact-finding mission by May 2007, to take advantage of better weather conditions. He also was also open to our suggestion that a brainstorming/briefing session could be set up using Embassy Bucharest's DVC capabilities. ¶5. (SBU) Comment and Action Request: Please advise on the feasibility and timing for responding to the MFA's request for developing a Romanian-led PRT in Qalat. We note that the political window for setting up and deploying a Romanian PRT is uncertain in light of the recent governmental shake-up in Romanaia. However, Prime Minister Tariceanu reportedly told MFA staff last week that he was supportive in principle of the goal of providing a PRT for Afghanistan. The working level at the MFA sounds serious about pursuing the idea and wants to get our best assessment and options for a Romanian led PRT. We are encouraged that the Romanians are actively looking for ways to ramp up their involvement in ISAF to the next level. End comment and action request. TAUBMAN