ROMANIA ON RC-SOUTH CIVILIAN-MILITARY PLANNING AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000634 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE: AARON SCHEIBE AND SCA/A NISHA SINGH E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS AF RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA ON RC-SOUTH CIVILIAN-MILITARY PLANNING AND COORDINATION CELL REF: STATE 85097 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jeri Guthrie-Corn; Reasons 1.4(a ) and (b). ¶1. (C) POLMILOFF delivered reftel demarche on August 8, to MFA acting-Director for Security Policy Daniel Ionita. Ionita thanked the U.S. for the proposal, noted that Romania strongly supports the plan for developing an RC-South Civil-Military Planning and Coordination Cell (CMPCC), consistent with the RC-South Comprehensive Plan. Ionita wanted assurances that the non-paper would be shared with other NATO allies. He said Romania was aware that there were "sensitivities among some larger Allies" about the risks of RC-South developing an independent capability. He emphasized that "we all need to pull together all of the resources available to develop adequate reconstruction and policy tools." Ionita added that it was extremely important to engage the NGOs as well as the other allies in order to take a comprehensive approach to the delicate civil-military situation in the South. ¶2. (C) Ionita noted that his preliminary concerns do not reflect a GOR consensus, but from his point of view it was also important that the EU should have an opportunity to weigh in on the development of a CMPCC, since it too has a stake in the conflict. He also pointed out that there were other contributors, although perhaps only indirectly associated with or perhaps not as fully engaged in RC-South ,but who would still want more visibility and involvement in the stabilization effort. "We must maintain unity of action," he underscored. Furthermore, he added that we must be cautious about creating a process that could create disincentives for "some large, important NATO Allies who may not be contributing as much as we would like them to." He argued for broader transparency on the proposal among the Allies, and encouraged careful development of any separate RC-South process that does not have full Alliance buy-in. He said he would take the non-paper to the interagency committee for a careful study and review, and would pass along any additional formal reactions. He did note that the desire to make the CMPCC operational prior to the November change of command in Regional Command-South was "extremely ambitious." He asked how the CMPCC would be financed and whether there was an expectation that all RC-S nations would be making a material and financial contribution. TAUBMAN