Wikileaks - CDXXX
76217 8/25/2006 15:21 06BUCHAREST1335 Embassy Bucharest CONFIDENTIAL 06STATE139903BUCHAREST1219 VZCZCXRO1282 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHBM #1335 2371521 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251521Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5038 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0039 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 2205 C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 001335
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND EUR/ERA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2016 TAGS: PREL, MOPS, EAID, LE, RO SUBJECT: ROMANIA: PLANS FOR STOCKHOLM DONOR CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 139903 BUCHAREST 01219
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Mark A. Taplin; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) .
1. (C) Summary: Romania MFA has proposed/proposed a &symbolic but credible8 deployment of gendarmes to support the peace process in Lebanon, and as part of the Romanian contribution to be made at the Stockholm donors conference. The Prime Minister has not yet agreed to the proposal, and there is some concern in the MFA that he will not agree. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ungureanu, currently in Brussels, is poised to announce a Romanian contribution, that will help maintain Bucharest's good standing with Brussels and Washington simultaneously. End Summary.
2. (C) There remains some uncertainty in what Romania can do in support of the international effort to stabilize and promote peace in Lebanon (ref a). There appears to be sufficient legislative support (ref b), and the MFA wants to do something that keeps Romania in view as good partners with the US and as a sound EU membership prospect. It seems that there is some hesitancy at higher levels to make a definitive commitment right now, but the MFA confirms that we can expect some contribution, probably at the 11th hour.
3. (C) The MFA Director for Middle East and Africa told Deputy Pol Chief that an inter-agency meeting on Romania's participation in the August 31 Donors Conference in Sweden and to decide on Romania's contribution, had been postponed until August 30. She did not expect the MFA would be able to attend the Stockholm conference at a senior level, and in all likelihood Romania would be represented through the Embassy.
4. (C) Following up, Deputy Pol Chief raised visibility issues with DG Political Affairs Dranga. He, too, was concerned that the Prime Minister may not accept the MFA proposal to send a contingent of gendarmes as a &symbolic but credible8 contribution. But, he added, he would make another push since the U.S. was sending a strong delegation. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ungureanu is attending a special EU General Affairs Council meeting where this issue will be raised, and it was possible, Dranga suggested, that Ungureanu could announce the proposed Romanian contribution at that time.
5. (C) Comment: The diplomatic tempo will increase as Romania prepares for its expected final &green light8 for entry into the EU. This could make officials a bit more cautious on navigating between their EU commitments, what they perceive as EU Common Foreign and Security Policy direction, and Bucharest's unambiguous desire to keep Washington close and happy. The bottom line is that Romania will likely make some contribution to help in Lebanon, but it may take a bit longer for them to decide exactly what that contribution will be. End Comment. Taplin
