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OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBM #0374 1361536
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O 151536Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8274
INFO RHFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T BUCHAREST 000374
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE AND NEA/IPA AND PM/PPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2023
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL PGOV RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA: PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY REQUESTS MILITARY
COOPERATION AGREEMENT
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Mark A. Taplin; Reasons 1.4(b) a nd (d).
1. (S) In a May 15 discussion with Poloff, MFA Director for Middle East and Africa Mihail Dobre relayed that the
Palestinian Authority (PA) representative in Bucharest sent a formal request to the MOD requesting a military
cooperation arrangement with Romania for the development and training of the Palestinian military institutions and
forces. The PA would like to conclude specifically a bilateral military education and training agreement with Romania.
(Note: The PA's request was forwarded to the MFA from the office of MOD State Secretary Dobritoiu, which oversees
international military cooperation. End Note.) Dobre remarked that during then-Foreign Minister Cioroianu's visit to
Israel and Lebanon last March, Israel laid down a marker that any Palestinian state would have a security component, but
necessarily would be "demilitarized." Dobre said, in the spirit of the U.S.-Romanian strategic partnership, Romania does
not want to respond without first obtaining USG advice on how to respond "prudently" to the PA's request.
2. (C) In another vein, Dobre said that Romania's representative at OSCE Vienna, was approached by the PA about the
prospects of the PA's inclusion in the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation (MPC). He noted that the PA had sought
inclusion in the MPC previously, but the U.S. expressed reluctance at that time. In response to poloffs inquiry, Dobre
said he was unaware whether the PA expressed any special, renewed interest in NATO's Mediteranean Dialogue or Istanbul
Cooperation Initiative.
3. (S) Finally Dobre shared "sensitive information" obtained by Romania's Ambassador in Beirut regarding plans for
relocating the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp to the West Bank. Dobre said that there was Saudi support for moving the camp
out of Lebanon, and he underscored the critical conditions for the 35K-plus refugees. He asked if the U.S. had any
information that could be shared.
4. (S) Comment/Request for guidance: This is an opportunity for us to have the Romanians reinforce select messages on
Palestinian-related issues. The new PA representative in Romania, Ahmed Majdalani, interprets his mandate rather
pro-actively, and could be surprising interlocutors with his energy. Nonetheless, the MFA is conducting due diligence in
their Middle East policy, and would like a U.S. opinion on these issues in order not to get out of synch with us or
upset ongoing negotiations. Please provide guidance on the three issues: PA military cooperation agreement, views on
PA's interests in the MPC (or other regional arrangements), and the Nahr al-Bared camp issue to share with the GOR. End
comment/request.
TAUBMAN