Wikileaks - CCCXXXVIII

65868 5/30/2006 13:19 06BUCHAREST877 Embassy Bucharest CONFIDENTIAL 06SECSTATE83457 VZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBM #0877 1501319 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 301319Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4513 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0064 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1188 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000877

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE - WSILKWORTH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2016 TAGS: PREL, NATO, MOPS, PGOV, RO, IZ SUBJECT: ROMANIA: INITIAL RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE REGARDING NATO TRAINING MISSION IN IRAQ TRUST FUND

REF: SECSTATE 83457

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Mark Taplin for Reasons 1.4 (a), (b) and (d)

(C) MFA NATO Division Director Mirela Maghiar told PolMilOff May 25 that the GOR "recognizes the importance" of the NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I) and would consider making a 2006 pledge to the NTM-I despite the fact that Romania faced significant resource constraints. (Reftel) Over the course of a discussion with PolMilOff about the importance of training the Iraqis to take full responsibility, eventually, for their own security needs, Maghiar underscored that the NTM-I is one way to "help ensure the security of Iraq" and promised that the GOR "will pay close attention to your demarche." Maghiar cautioned, however, that the GOR's evaluation of a possible pledge would be subject to a thorough interagency vetting process, "so we might not have the time to make an announcement by the June Defense Ministerial." TAUBMAN