VZCZCXRO5532 
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK 
DE RUEHBM #0463/01 1621426 
ZNY SSSSS ZZH 
O 101426Z JUN 08 
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8374 
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE 
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BUCHAREST 000463 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE JENSEN AND NEA/I BETTS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2023 
TAGS: KTIA MARR PGOV PREL SOFA RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIA ON THE IRAQ SOFA: "WE NEED A LEGAL 
FRAMEWORK NO LATER THAN JULY" 
 
REF: A. STATE 55889 B. BAGHDAD 01536 C. STATE 53211 D. BUCHAREST 00250 
 
Classified By: Political Counsellor Ted Tanoue; Reasons 1.4(b) and (d), 
 
¶1. (S) EMBOFFS met with MOD Deputy State Secretary for 
Defense Policy and Planning Rear Admiral Mihai Cornell and 
MFA Director for Middle East and Africa Ambassador Mihail 
Dobre on June 5, to review status of Iraq SOFA negotiations 
at the request of MOD and MFA. POLMILOFF, drawing on reftels 
A and B, described the negotiations as serious and making 
"substantial progress," coming to agreement on a number of 
provisions. POLMILOFF noted that the pace for the next 
negotiations were generally set by the Iraqi negotiators, and 
hopefully the next round will bring the SOFA within range of 
closure. Cornell expressed appreciation for the update, and 
noted that Romania would be making a decision on the 2009 
overseas military deployment levels at the meeting of the 
Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT) at the end of 
June. He said "we have the political will, determination and 
commitment. What we do not have is a legal framework." 
Cornell insisted that the GOR needed an agreed SOFA as a 
prerequisite for a legal framework for the continued 
deployment of Romanian troops in Iraq no later than July 
because of the requirement to get Parliamentary ratification 
in September. Otherwise, he continued, Romania would have to 
start contingency planning to withdraw its troops from Iraq." 
 
¶2. (S) Cornell noted that when CHOD Admiral Marin met with 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mullen, Marin was told that the 
U.S. would provide assistance for developing a SOFA with 
Iraq. He added that the most appropriate solution would be 
to use the U.S. "template", but Bucharest's political 
deadlines "force us to be diligent on this issue." He argued 
that September was the last realistic date for Parliamentary 
discussion, since national elections were planned for 
November -- meaning October would be dedicated to their 
electoral campaign schedule. The worse case scenario was for 
the General Staff to begin planning for withdrawal, he 
warned. He underscored the importance of having a draft SOFA 
to begin working on at the earliest opportunity. "There can 
be only one positive solution," Cornell emphasized, "a legal 
framework." 
 
¶3. (S) Dobre raised Romania's discussions at the meeting in 
Stockholm at the International Compact meeting, emphasizing 
Romania's broader commitment to Iraq's reintegration into the 
region. He also noted that Romania was the first non-Paris 
Club member to have forgiven up to 80 percent of Iraqi debt, 
to help Baghdad authorities to cope. He said the Romanian 
representative, Secretary of State Niculescu, hoped Romania's 
debt forgiveness would be used as a model by others. Dobre 
also mentioned that during the meeting of coalition partners 
in London, UK representatives raised "off-line" with Romania 
the possibility of a "limited UNSCR" that would provide an 
easy way out for everyone requiring a legal framework for 
continued operations. If the USG was thinking of such a 
possibility as a last minute strategy, Dobre pleaded, "please 
let us know immediately." 
 
¶4. (S) Dobre confirmed that Romania's discussions with the 
Iraqi embassy in Bucharest have indicated support in Baghdad 
for Romania's continued engagement in the coalition. "They 
want the international coalition to remain in Iraq," 
according to Dobre. In fact, he noted, the Iraqi Ambassador 
was trying to set up a visit by President Talabani to 
Bucharest this fall -- possibly as early as October. The 
visit was important for Romania in order to demonstrate its 
broadening and deepening engagement with Iraq, Dobre added. 
 
¶5. (S) Cornell asked when to expect another update on the 
SOFA. POLMILOFF suggested after July 4 would likely be the 
next best opportunity, and reiterated that much of the pace 
was dependent on the Iraqi negotiators. Cornell acknowledged 
the point and noted that MOD and MFA would need something to 
work on. 
 
¶6. (S) COMMENT: The Romanian election calendar will be an 
important factor for the GOR in pursuing its plan for 
continued Romanian deployment in Iraq, since the decision 
must be ratified by Parliament this fall. Without a SOFA in 
hand -- or some other politically acceptable legal framework 
-- Romania could have challenges staying the course in Iraq. 
While our Romanian partners remain eager to make this work, 
and we expect a positive decision on continued Iraq troop 
deployments at the June CSAT, there are real concerns in 
Bucharest about the clock running out before a new mandate is 
constructed. End comment. 
 
TAUBMAN