Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHISINAU100
2008-02-01 14:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

PARLIAMENT TO TAKE IRAQ TROOPS DECISION MID-FEBRUARY

Tags:  PREL MARR MOPS MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCH #0100 0321421
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 011421Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6217
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0015
RUEPGCA/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
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)

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