MFA REQUESTS "MINISTERIAL LEVEL" PARTICIPATION FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000475 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE JENSEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2007 TAGS: PHUM OSCE PREL SOCI SP RO SUBJECT: MFA REQUESTS "MINISTERIAL LEVEL" PARTICIPATION FOR TOLERANCE CONFERENCE IN BUCHAREST Classified By: POL Counselor Ted Tanoue for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) MFA Director for OSCE, Council of Europe and Human Rights Brandusa Predescu on April 23 briefed OSCE member embassies on the current status of the planning for the "High-Level Conference on Combating Discrimination and Promoting Mutual Respect and Understanding: Follow-up to the Cordoba Conference on Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance," to be held June 7-8, in Bucharest. ¶2. (SBU) Predescu reported that formal invitations to Ministers were issued on April 18, from the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Spanish Foreign Minister. She underscored that Romania was emphasizing the "High-Level" dimension for the conference. She reported that Germany was looking to send a Federal Minister as Head of Delegation and she asked OSCE member embassies to also consider the equivalent level. Predescu said FM Cioroianu would be joined by the Prime Minister, the President and the Heads of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies for the Opening Ceremony, and that Cioroianu was planning to attend most of the opening plenary session as well as the closing plenary and ceremony sessions. She urged all delegations to register and make their reservations before May 1 when the remaining blocked hotel rooms would have to be freed up. ¶3. (SBU) Among the logistical arrangements, Predescu said GOR would need 14 day advance notice for accompanying security officers carrying side arms, and for their radio frequencies. Specific inquiries regarding logistics can be sent directly to the MFA's Protocol Directorate at email: DP@mae.ro. The MFA has arranged all internal transportation for the conference. Each delegation will have a car for the head of delegation and a 20 passenger minibus, to facilitate transport. ¶4. (C) Separately with Deputy PolChief, Predescu made an appeal for the U.S. to send a senior level State Department representative. Politically it would be important to show support for Romania and to help draw international public attention, she said. She thought it would be particularly good if State could send an Under Secretary (possibly G). TAPLIN