US embassy cable - 05BUCHAREST984

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000984 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM, PREL, PHUM, RO 
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON ENCOURAGING 
PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES 
 
REF: STATE 66867 
 
1.  (U) This is an action request - see para 5. 
 
2.  (U) PolChief delivered April 18 the demarche on 
constructive participation in the Santiago Community of 
Democracies (CD) Conference to Steluta Arhire, MFA Director 
for the OSCE and Human Rights (reftel).  PolChief expressed 
strong appreciation for Romanian leadership within the 
Community of Democracies, which included hosting the CD 
Regional conference on civil society in Bucharest in 2003 and 
the recent organization and leadership of a CD delegation to 
Georgia.  PolChief encouraged potential Romanian initiatives 
in Chile, possibly building on these efforts. 
 
3.  (SBU) Arhire expressed appreciation for the information 
provided in our demarche and noted that the Romanian 
delegation would be led by Romania's Ambassador to Geneva. 
Regrettably, Foreign Minister Ungureanu will be occupied with 
Romania's EU accession treaty scheduled to be signed on April 
25. At the same time, Arhire noted disappointment about what 
she called "apparent Chilean disregard" for the Bucharest 
regional conference and the delegation to Georgia.  She said 
that she had already raised this with the Chilean Embassy in 
Bucharest.  Notably, Chile had failed to include on the CD 
conference website any mention of these efforts, which she 
said could serve as models for other CD projects.  She 
expressed continued strong GOR support for the CD process, 
and asked that the U.S. help in ensuring Romania's regional 
initiatives were included in the program in Santiago.  Arhire 
also confided that it had been difficult for her and others 
to convey to Romania's new government the importance the U.S. 
and others ascribe to the CD process.  She said she would 
relate to FM Ungureanu that Secretary Rice would be attending 
the Santiago conference, which would highlight the fact that 
this is a priority for the U.S. 
 
4.  (SBU) PolChief again underscored USG appreciation for 
Romania's leadership in the CD process, noting that Under 
Secretary for Global Affairs Dobriansky discussed CD issues 
 
SIPDIS 
thoroughly with former FM Geoana during her trip to Bucharest 
in October.  Strengthening Democracy is also an important 
component in our bilateral discussions on regional approach 
to the Black Sea, and both the Georgia mission and regional 
CD conference had been repeatedly raised in this regard. 
PolChief committed to convey Arhire's concerns to the 
Department. 
 
5.  (SBU) Action Request:  Post requests any feedback we may 
provide the GOR on including Romanian initiatives on the 
agenda in Santiago.  Romania has indeed been a proactive and 
constructive member of the CD.  We seek to reverse some 
sentiment in the MFA that their efforts are not being 
recognized. 
DELARE