YOUR MEETING WITH ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ADRIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000677

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NCE
PLEASE PASS TO SECRETARY OF STATE FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV RO
SUBJECT: YOUR MEETING WITH ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ADRIAN
CIOROIANU



1. (C) Your meeting with Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian
Cioroianu on June 13 affords us a golden opportunity to
influence the thinking of a new, untested Minister on issues
important to us. More importantly, it underscores our
support for a close partnership with Romania, whatever the
political coloration of the moment. Cioroianu will also
have meetings in Washington with Deputy Defense Secretary
Englund, NSC,s Hadley and DHS,s Chertoff.


2. (C) Cioroianu is young (40),a relative newcomer to
foreign policy matters, and has been on the job only since
April. For the past several years, he has been mostly
absorbed with his role as a European parliamentarian and
issues involving Romania's integration into the European
Union. What we say to him now will help establish a baseline
for however long he remains in office. We should be clear
and direct with him about our policy objectives. That
includes our strong desire to see Romanian troops remain in
Iraq, where they continue to be needed. We also would like
to see Romania take the next step in building on its already
substantial contributions in Afghanistan, including taking on
a PRT. I have worked hard to persuade all of the major
political protagonists here to put up a "firewall" between
their domestic political posturing and the larger
U.S.-Romania foreign policy equities, including NATO and
Romania's commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the western
Balkans. For the most past, we have succeeded. But your
meeting provides another opportunity to reiterate this
message.


3. (C) Cioroianu is very much a Tariceanu loyalist.
Although he has said he sees his role as a balancing factor
in Romanian foreign policy-making, the fact is that Cioroianu
does not enjoy President Basescu's confidence and has had his
hands tied by the continuing political combat between Basescu
and Prime Minister Tariceanu. (Basecu opposed his nomination
as Foreign Minister, citing his inexperience and lack of
resonance with the President's foreign policy objectives.)
Like many others in his Liberal Party, Cioroianu feels that
there must be some type of tradeoff between supporting the
U.S. and supporting the EU, but his MFA handlers have been
working with him to help him see that there does not have to
be a zero-sum game between Washington and Brussels. Along
with PM Tariceanu, Cioroianu also believes that the USG has
tilted too much in Basescu's direction and that Basescu has
used his special relationship with the U.S. as leverage in
his domestic political battles. You should make clear that
from our standpoint, the close strategic cooperation between
our two countries should transcend political personalities
and the daily headlines.


4. (C) After thanking Romania for its strong support in the
Global War on Terror, you will want to underscore the value
we place on Romania hosting the 2008 NATO Summit, and to note
that the venue reflects President Bush,s vision of a Europe,
whole, free and at peace. Cioroianu will be receptive and
may ask for suggestions for an appropriate theme that
encompasses Romania's interest in promoting stability to the
Black Sea region and in securing critical energy supply
routes out of the Caspian. While Cioroianu has actually
advocated behind closed doors for stronger business ties with
Russia, his Ministry still sees the Black Sea as a core
national security priority, including the unresolved
questions surrounding Moldova and its separatist enclave of
Transnistria. Just last week, in the run-up to the CFE
Extraordinary Conference, Bucharest proved sensitive to any
suggestion that Allies might dilute language on the Istanbul
commitments in exchange for Russia's continued adherence to
the CFE Treaty.


5. (C) Cioroianu will also put down a marker on Romania's
objective of finding a place in the visa waiver program, as
befitting a close strategic partner and ally of the United
States. He is aware of the Congressional primacy on this
issue, but will still be looking for reassurances from you
that Romania is getting the attention that he believes that
Romania has earned.


6. (C) Finally, if you have time, you might ask Cioroianu to
do what he can to have a Romanian ambassador to Washington
named right away. The post has been vacant since last
September, another casualty of the political infighting in
Bucharest.

TAUBMAN