PARLIAMENT TO TAKE IRAQ TROOPS DECISION MID-FEBRUARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHISINAU 000100 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS MD SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT TO TAKE IRAQ TROOPS DECISION MID-FEBRUARY Classified By: Ambassador Michael D. Kirby for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) DATT and Pol/Econ Chief met February 1 with Iurie Stoicov, head of Moldova's Parliamentary Committee on Security Issues, to discuss Moldova's troop contributions to Iraq. DATT expressed the USG's appreciation for Moldova's continuing support to the coalition, and commented that Moldovan deminers are needed now more than ever. ¶2. (C) Stoicov confirmed that the decision on sending Moldova's sixth contingent to Iraq would be on the parliamentary agenda in the second half of February. He explained that Parliament had recessed until February 7, and many other issues were already scheduled for the first week after the session resumes. Though many parliamentarians support Iraq participation, the decision faces some stiff opposition each time. Stoicov expects many questions about troop security, but assured us that he was ready to answer any challenge in a positive way. He expected the decision to pass after some after heated debate. Moldova's sixth contingent will have 20 men (16 deminers and 4 staff officers),larger than the previous group of eleven. ¶3. (C) DATT reiterated that protection of Moldovan forces as well as all coalition forces in Iraq was very important to the U.S. The Moldovan demining soldiers would be operating within a protected base. If a need arose to conduct demining missions outside of the base, the Moldovan soldiers would travel with U.S. forces and be under U.S. protection the entire time. ¶4. (C) Given Moldova's cumbersome decision-making process, and the three-month gap that will ensue between the departure of the fifth contingent and the arrival of the sixth, Emboffs raised the possibility of having Parliament authorize an additional follow-on contingent at the same time. Stoicov explained that Moldovan law required a parliamentary decision to authorize each deployment, except in an emergency situation, where the decision could be authorized by the President. Stoicov suggested however, that the decision-making process should be started earlier in the six-month cycle. KIRBY