US embassy cable - 05BUCHAREST852

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. 
 
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