Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BUCHAREST60
2007-01-18 16:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bucharest
Cable title:
ROMANIA: GOALS FOR INFORMAL NATO MINISTERIAL
how-toVZCZCXRO1653 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHBM #0060 0181609 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181609Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5862 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0158 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0101 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0021 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0284 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0155 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0036
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000060
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017
TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR MCAP RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA: GOALS FOR INFORMAL NATO MINISTERIAL
DELIVERED
REF: A. SECSTATE 4834
B. USOCE 0009
Classified By: DCM Mark A. Taplin for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000060
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017
TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR MCAP RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA: GOALS FOR INFORMAL NATO MINISTERIAL
DELIVERED
REF: A. SECSTATE 4834
B. USOCE 0009
Classified By: DCM Mark A. Taplin for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) Acting Pol Chief on January 16 discussed NATO
Ministerial goals (ref a) with MFA Political Director Ovidiu
Dranga and NATO Office Deputy Director Ana Tinca. Pol Chief
noted the excellent bilateral discussion between Foreign
Minister Ungureanu and Under Secretary Burns held on the
margins of the December OSCE Ministerial in Brussels (ref b),
and the welcome signal it would send other partners and
allies if Romania were able to offer additional Romanian
troops and any other contribution for Afghanistan (Romania
currently has 220 soldiers deployed in the Kandahar region
and 302 in Qalat). Dranga noted that Romania was proud that
it was "hitting above its weight class" in Afghanistan, and
indicated the GOR was considering a non-military contribution
to offset any military demands placed by new ESDP
commitments. Tinca observed that Romania still had some
minor caveats (crowd control and location) in Afghanistan,
but supposed that this would not be a major issue considering
where Romania forces are deployed in Afghanistan. Pol Chief
said the fewer the caveats the better, but doubted Romania
was much of a concern relative to other allies.
2. (C) Regarding Romania's ESDP interests, Pol Chief noted
that the implementation of a civil-military dimension in
Afghanistan is wholly compatible with the EU's interest in
developing that particular capability within ESDP; the
multi-national operational skills are fungible. Dranga took
the point and mentioned the possibility that -- "further down
the road" -- Romania may raise interest in PRT deployments.
In any case, Dranga said the GOR will of course do what it
can in support of the US initiative to keep the Riga momentum
going.
3. (C) Comment: Dranga acknowledged not receiving a
detailed report on FM Ungureanu's meeting with Under
Secretary Burns, in which the FM had apparently made an
SIPDIS
ambitious, and probably unrealistic offer of two additional
battalions for Afghanistan. Dranga did promise that he would
follow up, and apologized that he had been more focused on
the upcoming EU Pol Directors meeting in Berlin). Whether the
GOR can afford to deploy more troops under ISAF remains to be
seen -- our understanding as of November was a reinforced
company. Armatt discussions on January 18, revealed that
Romanian Land Forces were not planning to increase their
numbers deployed. They not only have a limited ability to
provide logistic support, but also they have a limit on the
number of troops deployed. This could change if there is
sufficient will in Parliament to do so, but considering
problems within the governing coalition that is unlikely.
Nonetheless we fully expect the GOR to make a serious effort
towards making some additional concrete commitment at the
January NATO Ministerial. End Comment.
TAUBMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017
TAGS: PREL NATO MOPS MARR MCAP RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA: GOALS FOR INFORMAL NATO MINISTERIAL
DELIVERED
REF: A. SECSTATE 4834
B. USOCE 0009
Classified By: DCM Mark A. Taplin for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) Acting Pol Chief on January 16 discussed NATO
Ministerial goals (ref a) with MFA Political Director Ovidiu
Dranga and NATO Office Deputy Director Ana Tinca. Pol Chief
noted the excellent bilateral discussion between Foreign
Minister Ungureanu and Under Secretary Burns held on the
margins of the December OSCE Ministerial in Brussels (ref b),
and the welcome signal it would send other partners and
allies if Romania were able to offer additional Romanian
troops and any other contribution for Afghanistan (Romania
currently has 220 soldiers deployed in the Kandahar region
and 302 in Qalat). Dranga noted that Romania was proud that
it was "hitting above its weight class" in Afghanistan, and
indicated the GOR was considering a non-military contribution
to offset any military demands placed by new ESDP
commitments. Tinca observed that Romania still had some
minor caveats (crowd control and location) in Afghanistan,
but supposed that this would not be a major issue considering
where Romania forces are deployed in Afghanistan. Pol Chief
said the fewer the caveats the better, but doubted Romania
was much of a concern relative to other allies.
2. (C) Regarding Romania's ESDP interests, Pol Chief noted
that the implementation of a civil-military dimension in
Afghanistan is wholly compatible with the EU's interest in
developing that particular capability within ESDP; the
multi-national operational skills are fungible. Dranga took
the point and mentioned the possibility that -- "further down
the road" -- Romania may raise interest in PRT deployments.
In any case, Dranga said the GOR will of course do what it
can in support of the US initiative to keep the Riga momentum
going.
3. (C) Comment: Dranga acknowledged not receiving a
detailed report on FM Ungureanu's meeting with Under
Secretary Burns, in which the FM had apparently made an
SIPDIS
ambitious, and probably unrealistic offer of two additional
battalions for Afghanistan. Dranga did promise that he would
follow up, and apologized that he had been more focused on
the upcoming EU Pol Directors meeting in Berlin). Whether the
GOR can afford to deploy more troops under ISAF remains to be
seen -- our understanding as of November was a reinforced
company. Armatt discussions on January 18, revealed that
Romanian Land Forces were not planning to increase their
numbers deployed. They not only have a limited ability to
provide logistic support, but also they have a limit on the
number of troops deployed. This could change if there is
sufficient will in Parliament to do so, but considering
problems within the governing coalition that is unlikely.
Nonetheless we fully expect the GOR to make a serious effort
towards making some additional concrete commitment at the
January NATO Ministerial. End Comment.
TAUBMAN