Cablegate: Romania Moves Ahead with Plans to Abolish Draft

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 001580

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS MARR SOCI RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA MOVES AHEAD WITH PLANS TO ABOLISH DRAFT

REF: BUCHAREST 1563

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

1. (U) The GOR decided July 11 to abolish the draft for
the Romanian Armed Forces effective January 1, 2007. The
decision reflects Romania's ongoing defense modernization
program, which includes the goal of an all-professional MOD,
consisting of 75,000 soldiers and 15,000 civilians, by 2007.
(Note: The MOD presently consists of about 100,000 civilian
and military personnel. End Note.)

2. (SBU) A senior MOD official told PolOff July 14 that the
GOR has submitted a bill to parliament abolishing the draft.
The official added that there is broad bipartisan support
for the abolition of mandatory military service, but stated
that parliament would not approve the bill until this fall
given that it is currently in summer recess. The likelihood
of the PM's imminent resignation and early parliamentary
elections also reduces the likelihood of swift action.
(Ref)

3. (U) Other provisions of the government's decision and
draft law include a requirement that male citizens must
register at "military centers" once they have reached the
age of 20. According to a July 12 GOR press communique, the
draft's "suspension" will permit a voluntary military except
in the case of "war, mobilization or siege." The draft will
be phased out gradually, with the last batch of conscripts
called up in October 2006 for a "reduced term" of service.

4. (SBU) Comment: The MOD official we spoke with confirmed
that the Ministry of Interior will continue - for the time
being - to use conscripts for certain positions, e.g. as
guards. The 1700 Romanian troops currently deployed
overseas, including the about 1400 in Afghanistan and Iraq,
are all volunteers. Despite the clear advantages of an all-
professional armed forces, especially given the GOR's
commitment to developing NATO niche capabilities and
supporting NATO operations, some Romanians we have spoken
with have expressed nostalgia at the passing of the draft,
which they describe as a sort of "rite of passage" for many
young men. Many, however, bitterly remember the lugubrious
political indoctrination and what one contact described as
the "futility" of mandatory military service during the
communist era. End Comment.

5. (U) Amembassy Bucharest's reporting telegrams are
available on the Bucharest SIPRNET Website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/bucharest.

TAPLIN

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