US embassy cable - 05BUCHAREST1530

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 001530 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS, PARM, PREL, MOPS, MARR, RO, Military Assistance 
SUBJECT:  ROMANIA: PROPOSED FY2005 SOLIDARITY FUND 
ALLOCATIONS 
 
REF: STATE 120737 
 
1.  PolChief discussed Coalition Solidarity Fund (CSF) 
allocation of $17,000,000 to Romania with MFA NATO Division 
Director Mirela Maghiar and other MFA interlocutors on June 
30.  Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) also 
discussed the allocation July 1 with Ion-Mircea Plangu, MOD 
State Secretary and Chief of the Department for Euro- 
Atlantic Integration and Defense Policy.  In both meetings, 
GOR interlocutors expressed appreciation for the allocation 
and promised to provide further details about intended uses 
for the funds. 
 
2.  ODC received July 7 a letter from the Ministry of 
Defense outlining the MOD's policy priorities and providing 
a breakdown of how it proposes to spend the $17,000,000 
allocation.  The complete text of the letter follows. 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
Ministry of National Defense 
Department for EuroAtlantic Integration and Defense Policy 
Bucharest, Romania 
 
July 07, 2005 
 
Office of Defense Cooperation 
US Embassy, Bucharest 
 
The Department for EuroAtlantic Integration and Defense 
Policy presents its compliments to the U.S. Office of 
Defense Cooperation. 
 
The purpose of this letter is to give you an update on 
MoND's policy priorities about the military capabilities to 
be strengthened, for the near and medium term future. 
These are the following: 
 
1. Military Intelligence 
2. Black Sea Surveillance 
3. Airlift - C-130 logistic support 
4. Special Forces 
5. Defense Reform 
 
The Spending Plan for the $17 million supplement from the 
Coalition Solidarity Fund, reflecting the here above 
priorities, is estimated as follows: 
 
- UAV SHADOW 200                   $ 8.00 M 
- HUMINT Training and Equipment    $ 1.40 M 
- SCOMAR                           $ 1.00 M 
- C130 Support                     $ 3.00 M 
- Special Forces: HMMWVs           $ 2.60 M 
- Defense Reform                   $ 1.00 M 
                  TOTAL            $17.00 M 
 
The Department for EuroAtlantic Integration and Defense 
Policy avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the 
Embassy of the United States of America the assurances of 
its highest consideration. 
 
[signed] Ion Mircea Plangu 
 
State Secretary for Defense Policy and EuroAtlantic 
Integration 
 
END TEXT 
 
TAPLIN