ROMANIA ACCEPTS CROATIA/ALBANIA NATO PROTOCOLS

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000112 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE A.SCHEIBE, EUR/RPM DMITRY VOVCHUK, EUR/RPM KRISTIN CALSON,AND L/T FRANK HOLLERAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIA MARR NATO PARM PREL RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA ACCEPTS CROATIA/ALBANIA NATO PROTOCOLS REF: A. BUCHAREST 00064 ¶B. STATE 07128 ¶C. 08 STATE 106321 ¶1. (U) Mission received on February 20, a letter (under cover of Note Verbale) from Foreign Minister Diaconescu addressed to the Secretary indicating Romania's acceptance of the NATO Accession Protocols for Albania and Croatia (text copied below). Mission will pouch the original document to L/T Francis Holleran Mission understands that the MFA has also sent this document to its Embassy. ¶2. (U) Begin text: Nr. H2/493 16 February 2009 Dear Madam Secretary, I have the pleasure to inform you that, pursuant to Article II of the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Albania and Article II of the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia, Romania ratified the mentioned Protocols. Therefore, by completing the internal procedures to that end, Romania accepts thereof the two mentioned Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Albania and of the Republic of Croatia respectively. Romania, as you know, has been a strong supporter of Croatia and Albania joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and, by notifying the acceptance of the two Protocols, Romania wishes to express, once again, its support for the path the two countries have taken towards peace and security. Yours faithfully, (signed) Cristian Diaconescu (MFA stamped) The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State U.S. Department of State End text. GUTHRIE-CORN