DEMARCHE RESPONSE: GAERC TALKING POINTS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000727 SIPDIS TO ROMANIA DESK OFFICER AND EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2028 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: GAERC TALKING POINTS AND GYMNICH READOUT REF: SECSTATE 96598 Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Tanoue for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (U) Poloff delivered reftel talking points and non-paper on September 10 to Daniel Ionita, Director for Security Policy, and Cosmin Onisii, Director of the U.S. and Canada Division, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania. ¶2. (C) Commenting on the September 5-6 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Avignon, France (GYMNICH),Ionita said that Romania was one of those nations speaking in favor of establishing "a new format of dialogue" between the European Union and the United States. This would entail inviting the U.S. to GYMNICH in a "27 1" format. No decision was made, Ionita reported. ¶3. (C) Regarding the proposed observer mission to Georgia, Ionita reported that the matter should be decided at the forthcoming meeting of foreign ministers. ¶4. (SBU) Ionita said Romania recognizes the importance of the Transatlantic link and stressed the importance of EU-U.S. dialogue in matters such as climate change, energy security and crisis management. TAUBMAN