HUNGARY - WANTED OR NOT IN IRAQ?

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000934 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/RPM CHRIS DAVY AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS NATO HU SUBJECT: HUNGARY - WANTED OR NOT IN IRAQ? REF: SECSTATE 99701 Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) MFA Security and Non-proliferation Department Head Vilmos Hamikus discussed reftel with Pol/Off September 22. Hamikus commented that although the Hungarians plan to keep their current NTM-I, three-person team in Iraq through the end of 2009 based on requests at the Bucharest summit, they do not believe the Iraqi Government desires continued Hungarian assistance. Hamikus based his comments on an MFA memo (provided to PolOff) summarizing a report from their CENTCOM military representative, who received information from CENTCOM that the Iraqi Government will not include Hungarian participation in future Operation Iraqi Freedom operations. Hamikus pointed out the contradiction between the request for further NATO members' contributions to NTM-I at the same time the Iraqi Government is excluding some of the same from further participation. That said, Hamikus stated that in a meeting with the Hungarian Chief of Defense, General Andras Havril commented that the MOD may propose sending a small contingent to Iraq to provide training on the T-72 tanks previously provided by Hungary. ¶2. (C) DAO delivered the reftel demarche to Colonel Arpad Toth from MOD's International Department September 22. Toth stated he would "push the request through the bureaucracy" to provide a response. Commenting on the reftel request for Hungary to use its NATO Center of Excellence on Medical Support, both Toth and Hamikus stated that the Center is more concept than reality. Foley