VZCZCXRO6520
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHBM #0802 3371326
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031326Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0124
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000802 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE EUR/CE FOR ASCHEIBE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP PREL MARR MASS MOPS RO
SUBJECT: CODEL SKELTON MEETS WITH ROMANIAN MILITARY 
LEADERSHIP 
 
REF: STATE 120174 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a 23-25 November 2009 visit to 
Romania, House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman Ike 
Skelton (D-MO), ranking member Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) 
and four other HASC members met with senior leaders of the 
Romanian MOD and General Staff, members of the parliamentary 
Defense Committee and the Romanian President's National 
Security Advisor, as well as visiting Romanian soldiers 
wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.  CODEL Skelton thanked 
Romania for their force contributions in Afghanistan, Iraq 
and the Western Balkans and expressed Congressional support 
for deepening U.S.-Romanian Political-Military cooperation. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) CODEL Skelton met November 24 with Chief of General 
Staff Adm Gheorghe Marin, Chief of Land Forces MGen Dan 
Ghica, Deputy Defense Minister Viorel Oancea and other MOD 
officials to discuss U.S.-Romanian defense cooperation and 
especially joint operations in Afghanistan.  The CODEL 
thanked the Romanians for their contributions and sacrifices 
in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The MOD reps expressed their pride 
in their close relationship with American Armed Forces and 
emphasized that through this cooperation and joint training 
Romania was working to modernize its military forces.  Gen 
Ghica told the CODEL that the Romanian Land Forces were eager 
to continue their contributions in Afghanistan but asked for 
Congressional help in acquiring the equipment necessary to do 
the job properly.  He focused specifically on heavily armored 
vehicles such as Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles 
(MRAP) and armored construction equipment for combat 
engineers.  Ghica noted that Romanian troops were patrolling 
Highway One between Kabul and Kandahar alongside American 
troops but they did not yet have the same equipment as the 
American units.  He added that Romanian combat engineers have 
been underutilized due to their lack of armored bulldozers 
and graders.  Finally, the Romanians noted that their 
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capabilities had been seriously 
degraded by operations in Iraq, where they had essentially 
worn out all of their existing aircraft.  The MOD had already 
begun to lose experienced pilots and technicians due to a 
lack of usable UAVs, and they were seeking assistance in 
purchasing new systems or in allowing Romanian pilots to 
operate U.S. UAVs in Afghanistan. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Delegation met separately with four members of 
the Romanian Parliament Committee on Defense, Public Order 
and National Security, led by committee chairman, Costica 
Conacheu and including representatives from each of the three 
major political parties.  The MPs emphasized that, regardless 
of who won the December 6 presidential runoff, Romania would 
remain committed to the mission in Afghanistan and the close 
relationship with the United States.  They acknowledged that 
the political parties disagreed on many topics, but they were 
united behind the view that a strong relationship with the 
U.S. was essential to Romanian security.  The CODEL and their 
Romanian counterparts also shared views on the legislative 
branch oversight responsibilities, especially in the context 
of the military.  The CODEL advised the Romanians to visit 
with their troops, to talk with them and to see their 
equipment so that they would be better educated about the 
military's needs and procurement priorities. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The CODEL also met with Iulian Fota, National 
Security Advisor to Romanian President Traian Basescu, who 
explained that Romanian engagement in Afghanistan had not 
been an issue in the presidential elections because all the 
major candidates and parties agreed on the importance of the 
mission.  He also discussed the importance of the Black Sea 
area for regional stability and global energy security.  Fota 
said that Romania had a key role in promoting and securing 
regional stability and that it was vital that NATO and the 
U.S. increase their influence throughout the Black Sea area. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Finally, the Delegation visited the military 
hospital in Bucharest and met with soldiers wounded in Iraq 
and Afghanistan, many of whom had received medical treatment 
in the U.S. or at U.S. facilities in Germany.  Several 
soldiers expressed their gratitude for lifesaving treatment, 
while the CODEL thanked the soldiers and their families for 
their service.  Two soldiers still require follow-up care not 
available in Romania, and the CODEL promised to explore the 
possibility of arranging treatment at U.S. facilities.  The 
CODEL asked the Romanian hospital and Embassy Bucharest for 
specific information on the patients' conditions and 
treatment requirements.  Post is following up directly with 
CODEL staff and the hospital. 
GITENSTEIN