US embassy cable - 05BUCHAREST938

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUCHAREST 000938 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2015 
TAGS: MOPS, MARR, PREL, PARM, TU, RS, GG, IP, RO, NATO, RU 
SUBJECT: ROMANIA SATISFIED WITH BLACKSEAFOR OUTCOME 
 
REF: STATE 66823 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF ROBERT GILCHRIST FOR REASONS  1. 
4 B AND D 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Romania is satisfied with the results of the 
recent BLACKSEAFOR meeting, which includes an agreement 
allowing Black Sea states to work with non-BLACKSEAFOR states 
and organizations in the region, and activates the 
BLACKSEAFOR mission control structure for a period of one 
year, although does not extend planned operations.  End 
Summary. 
 
2. (C) PolOffs met with NATO Division Director Mirela Maghiar 
to gain insight into the BLACKSEAFOR meeting held in Kiev on 
31 March, which produced a series of agreements that Romania 
found overall satisfactory. Russia initially stressed that 
Black Sea states had sufficient capabilities to address the 
needs of the region, but following lengthy multilateral 
discussions and notably pressure from Turkey, Russia reversed 
its position and agreed with the majority present to permit 
the involvement of non-Black Sea states and organizations to 
support democracy, reform and stabilization efforts in the 
region. GOR stressed that it supports a &NATO identity8 in 
the Black Sea and is cautious about Russian support for the 
Black Sea Harmony initiative, which GOR sees as an attempt to 
duplicate existing regional structures. 
 
3. (C) The governments present agreed to activate the command 
structure of BLACKSEAFOR for one year, although the GOR 
official stated that additional Black Sea operations would 
not occur during this period, apart from the two official 
BLACKSEAFOR operations that are currently held annually. GOR 
notes that Romania will continue to oppose permanent command 
and control structures within BLACKSEAFOR, but may be willing 
to make some concessions in the future to advance the 
initiative. 
 
4. (C) Comment.  MFA officials also stressed that the meeting 
produced a preliminary agreement to exchange information 
among BLACKSEAFOR states, but GOR will seek to ensure that 
information is clearly defined so as to exclude intelligence 
sharing.  End Comment. 
DELARE