VZCZCXYZ0012
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBM #0381 0931535
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031535Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6377
INFO RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0043
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000381
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE JENSEN AND SCA/A; KABUL FOR RODLEY AND
MURPHY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PGOV
SUBJECT: MFA: ROMANIA IS INTERESTED IN LEADING A PRT IN
QALAT
1. (SBU) This is a request for guidance; see para 5.
2. (SBU) New Director General for Strategic Affairs, Victor
Micula, accompanied by NATO Policy Deputy Director Ana Tinca,
told DCM and POLMILOFF on March 28 that Romania was
interested in leading a PRT in Qalat, Zabol Province (where
Romania already has an infantry battalion). Micula laid out
three options currently under consideration on the Romanian
side (in descending order of preference). The most ambitious
option would be to lead a PRT with a special emphasis on
education (since Romanian specialists already had worked on
curriculum development with IBE UNESCO), and also possibly
including Health, Justice and Agricultural specialists. If
Romania did not have sufficient resources to lead a PRT of
its own, then it would want to participate in a PRT with
other nations. Another option, although the "least
desirable" one according to Micula, would be for Romania to
focus its effort in Kabul.
3. (SBU) Micula said that when he was recently in Canada, he
had met a NATO team that expressed interest in coming to
Bucharest and helping Romania "brainstorm" on developing a
PRT concept. Micula would like a team to brief select
representatives from different Romanian ministries as an
initial step towards fielding a PRT. He noted that the MFA
needed an accurate inventory of what is required so that the
GOR can estimate its capacity to deliver. Following the
briefing, Romania would then prepare a fact-finding mission
to go to Afghanistan in order refine the PRT assessed needs.
Provided that the process does not run into any resource or
conceptual obstacles, the MFA would then ask for government
approval and additional resources to field a PRT.
4. (SBU) Micula expressed interest in developing a PRT that
would build on contributions from Education, Health, Justice
and Agriculture Ministries. He again noted that Romania had
already helped develop educational curricula for Afghanistan
through the U.N. and that three Romanian judges were also
present in Kabul under European Union auspices. Micula would
also like to involve Romanian agricultural expertise into
opium crop replacement strategies. The MFA would be looking
towards sending out its fact-finding mission by May 2007, to
take advantage of better weather conditions. He also was
also open to our suggestion that a brainstorming/briefing
session could be set up using Embassy Bucharest's DVC
capabilities.
5. (SBU) Comment and Action Request: Please advise on the
feasibility and timing for responding to the MFA's request
for developing a Romanian-led PRT in Qalat. We note that the
political window for setting up and deploying a Romanian PRT
is uncertain in light of the recent governmental shake-up in
Romanaia. However, Prime Minister Tariceanu reportedly told
MFA staff last week that he was supportive in principle of
the goal of providing a PRT for Afghanistan. The working
level at the MFA sounds serious about pursuing the idea and
wants to get our best assessment and options for a Romanian
led PRT. We are encouraged that the Romanians are actively
looking for ways to ramp up their involvement in ISAF to the
next level. End comment and action request.
TAUBMAN