Cablegate: Romanian Armament Donation to the Afghan National
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS BUCHAREST 000852
SIPDIS
STATE DEPT FOR EUR/NCE - WILLIAM SILKWORTH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PARM PGOV PREL AF RO
SUBJECT: ROMANIAN ARMAMENT DONATION TO THE AFGHAN NATIONAL
ARMY
On April 1, the Embassy received a letter dated March 16
from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense to the Office
of Defense Cooperation (ODC) regarding Romania's offer to
donate armaments to the Afghan National Army. Post notes
that the MOD letter includes a request for "official letters
from the US Department of Defense and from the Afghan
Government" acknowledging both acceptance of the donation
and addressing the question of transportation. The text of
the letter is in Romanian and Post's informal translation of
the letter follows:
Begin Text:
Unclassified
SIPDIS
Copy no. 1
Romania Ministry of National Defense
General Staff Logistics Directorate
16.03.2005 Nr. L/2258
Bucharest
To Lt. Colonel Ira C. Queen
Head of the Defense Cooperation Bureau
Following your message of March 11, 2005,
The Minister of National Defense approved, in a resolution
on report number PI/312/01.31.2005, an offer of armaments
donation to the Afghan National Army, comprised of 7,167
pieces sub-machine guns 7.62 mm caliber, model 1963, with
common butt (category I), and 783 pieces light machine guns,
sub-machine guns 7.62 mm caliber, model 1964, with common
butt (category II), with spare parts and accessories, if
transportation abroad to the beneficiary is done by the
Coalition's means.
The offer was transmitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in order to be conveyed, through diplomatic channels, to the
U.S. Department of State.
The items cannot be donated unless the Romanian Government
adopts a decision in this regard. To this purpose, the
Romanian Government has to receive official letters from the
US Department of Defense and from the Afghan Government to
notify the acceptance of the donation and to mention who
will provide the means of transportation of the donation on
its external way to the beneficiary. In this regard, I have
requested the support of the chief of the liaison team of
USCENTCOM, but support from your office would be extremely
welcomed.
The organization of the inspection of the items should not
be a problem, provided you let us know in due time the
period, the identity of the members of the inspection team
and the objectives of the inspection, to get the necessary
approvals.
Respectfully yours,
Brigadier General, Doctor, Engineer Emanoil Ciocotea
Chief of the Logistics Directorate
[Stamp]
End text.
Delare