ROMANIAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS END OF MISSION CEREMONY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001483

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS IZ ES RO AS UK
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN PRESIDENT ATTENDS END OF MISSION CEREMONY
FOR ROMANIAN FORCES IN IRAQ

Classified By: Pol-Mil Minister Counselor Michael H. Corbin for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Romanian President Basescu presided over a
ceremony on June 4 at COB Adder, Tallil to commemorate the
End of Mission (EOM) for Romanian forces in Iraq. The
ceremony included a wreath-laying in honor of three Romanian
soldiers who died in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
(OIF). President Basescu met briefly with the Ambassador and
the CG after the ceremony, thanking them for their strong
support of Romanian forces deployed in Iraq and remarking
that Romania's experience in Iraq and Afghanistan had been
invaluable to the training and development of its forces. As
one of the last remaining Coalition partners, Romania's
departure marks an end to an important multilateral military
effort in support of OIF. The GOI has been reluctant to sign
bilateral security agreements (with the exception of the UK);
however, will continue to press the GOI on the value of such
alliances - particularly with those countries that stood with
them in OIF. End Summary.


2. (C) Romanian President Traian Basescu, Minister of Defense
Mihai Stanisoara and Chief of General Staff Admiral Gheorghe
Marin visited Iraq on June 4 to attend the Romanian EOM
ceremony at COB Adder, Tallil. The Ambassador,
Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I) Commanding General (CG)
Raymond Odierno, Muli-National Corps Iraq (MNC-I) CG Chuck
Jacoby and NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I) Deputy CG
Italian General Paolo Bosotti represented the Coalition at
the Ceremony. Iraqi Ministry of Defense Chief of Staff of
Joint Headquarters Babakir Zebari and Iraqi Ground Forces
Commander General Ali Ghaydan represented Baghdad and the
Governor of Muthana province and the Provincial Council Chair
of Dhi Qar province also attend the ceremony along with a
large number of local sheikhs and local Iraqi Security Force
representatives. President Basescu congratulated his forces
for their significant achievements and great sacrifices in
Iraq, reciting the names of the three Romanian soldiers who
died in support of OIF. President Basescu, the Ambassador
and CG, and Iraqi General Babakhir each laid wreaths on a
memorial to the fallen Romanian soldiers. The Romanian
delegation presented commendations to the Romanian forces.
The ceremony concluded with the lowering of the Romanian
flag, symbolizing the end of the Romanian mission in Iraq.


3. (C) Since August 2003, Romania has deployed over 5,000
troops in support of OIF. Three Romanian soldiers were
killed and 12 were wounded in Iraq. Romanian forces were
involved in full-spectrum combat operations, training, civil
capacity building, and intelligence support during their
almost six years in Iraq. They had excellent relations with
the GOI and a Romanian General served as the coordinator of
all coalition operations in the MNF-I Plans division. Romania
was one of five Coalition partners invited by the GOI to
remain beyond the expiration of the UN mandate in December

2008. All Romanian forces, save three personnel assigned to
NTM-I, will depart Iraq by July 31.


4. (C) After the EOM ceremony, President Basescu met briefly
with the Ambassador and the CG. President Basescu thanked
Qwith the Ambassador and the CG. President Basescu thanked
the Ambassador and CG for U.S. support of Romanian forces
during their deployment to Iraq. The Ambassador remarked
that Romania was a strong NATO ally and that its significant
achievements had contributed greatly to the success of OIF.
CG Odierno added that he had worked with Romanian Forces for
many years in Iraq and that they were always exceedingly
professional and committed to the mission. He described
Romanians as true partners who had stood shoulder to shoulder
with U.S. and formed a special bond. President Basescu said
as commander-in chief, it was important that the army is
trained in real conditions and tested on the battlefield.
President Basescu remarked that Romania's experience in Iraq
and Afghanistan has been invaluable to their military's
training and development. CG responded that the Romanian
Army has the "Warrior ethos," noting that this cannot be said
of all U.S. partners.


5. (C) President Basescu questioned whether Iraq was capable
of providing for its own security, in light of the drawdown
of Coalition forces and owing to the inexperience of the
Iraqi Army - after being rebuilt since 2003. The CG replied
that many Iraqi soldiers, particularly in the senior ranks,
had fought in the Iran-Iraq war and were experienced. The CG

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said that the Iraqi Army was increasingly capable and he
believed that they would be able manage security in Iraq.
President Basescu commented that the CG's optimism made him
feel more confident about Iraq's future.


6. (C) Comment: The Romanian EOM ceremony - to be closely
followed by the Australian ceremony - represents the drawing
to a close of an important multilateral military effort by
our allies in Iraq in support of U.S. objectives. If the GOI
implements a security agreement with the UK to include the
naval training mission (as now appears likely) at least one
bilateral security relationship has been established.
Unfortunately the GOI was reluctant to invest the effort
required to conclude agreements with any of the other forces
that served in support of OIF. We will continue to look for
opportunities to press the GOI on the value of additional
bilateral security relationships - hopefully with those
countries that stood with them in OIF.
FORD