Wikileaks - CLIII
30180 4/6/2005 9:58 05BUCHAREST852 Embassy Bucharest UNCLASSIFIED This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000852
SIPDIS
STATE DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR, MASS, PARM, PGOV, PREL, AF, RO, military cooperation SUBJECT: ROMANIAN ARMAMENT DONATION TO THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
On April 1, the Embassy received a letter dated March 16 from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense to the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) regarding Romania's offer to donate armaments to the Afghan National Army. Post notes that the MOD letter includes a request for "official letters from the US Department of Defense and from the Afghan Government" acknowledging both acceptance of the donation and addressing the question of transportation. The text of the letter is in Romanian and Post's informal translation of the letter follows:
Begin Text:
Unclassified
SIPDIS Copy no. 1
Romania Ministry of National Defense General Staff Logistics Directorate 16.03.2005 Nr. L/2258 Bucharest
To Lt. Colonel Ira C. Queen Head of the Defense Cooperation Bureau
Following your message of March 11, 2005, The Minister of National Defense approved, in a resolution on report number PI/312/01.31.2005, an offer of armaments donation to the Afghan National Army, comprised of 7,167 pieces sub-machine guns 7.62 mm caliber, model 1963, with common butt (category I), and 783 pieces light machine guns, sub-machine guns 7.62 mm caliber, model 1964, with common butt (category II), with spare parts and accessories, if transportation abroad to the beneficiary is done by the Coalition's means.
The offer was transmitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to be conveyed, through diplomatic channels, to the U.S. Department of State.
The items cannot be donated unless the Romanian Government adopts a decision in this regard. To this purpose, the Romanian Government has to receive official letters from the US Department of Defense and from the Afghan Government to notify the acceptance of the donation and to mention who will provide the means of transportation of the donation on its external way to the beneficiary. In this regard, I have requested the support of the chief of the liaison team of USCENTCOM, but support from your office would be extremely welcomed.
The organization of the inspection of the items should not be a problem, provided you let us know in due time the period, the identity of the members of the inspection team and the objectives of the inspection, to get the necessary approvals.
Respectfully yours, Brigadier General, Doctor, Engineer Emanoil Ciocotea Chief of the Logistics Directorate [Stamp]
End text.
Delare
