ROMANIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER: PROBLEMS AT HOME, SEEKING FRIENDS ABROAD

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: ROMANIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005695234
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: July 13, 2011
• Case Number: F-2011-01663
• Publication Date: June 8, 1994

CenU Inca ena* A'Vncy
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95-F-1167
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE - CIA INFO^ DATE: 07-07-2011
8 June 1994
Romania's Defense Minister: P oblems . at Home,
Seeking Friends Abroad
Romania's new civilian Defense Minister Gheorghe Tfnca is ahem ling to
cope with an increasingly contentious political system and a shrinking dense budget
while simultaneously seeking to strengthen ties to NATO and improve relations with
Russia and Ukraine.
Tinca, an experienced diplomat who served at the UN in the early 1980's, in
March replaced popular career officer General Niculae Spiroiu, who fell victim to a
prolonged vituperative campaign by the nationalist press. Tinca
was backed for the post by President
tescu s Party of Social Democracy in Romania (PDSR).
The PDSR, a party of former-Communists, has a plurality in
parliament and rules through an informal coalition with extremist
and ultranationalist parties.
Tinca is likely to be an advocate for active Romanian participation in
Partnership for Peace and membership in NATO.
-- He shares the Romanian elite's concern that national security
would be at risk if regional rival Hungary entered NATO before
Bucharest.
Romania has demonstrated its support for Partnership for Peace by being first to
sign the framework document. To support its bid for NATO membership, the military
is taking steps to improve its peacekeeping capabilities'and establish links to Western
militaries.
Bucharest is cooperating with Warsaw to train Romanian units
slated for peacekeeping and rapid deployment operations. The
Romanian military also provided field hospitals during the
Persian Gulf war: and in Somalia..
Romania hosted SACEUR in early April and the French Defense
Minister in early Tune.
This memorandum was prepared by the Office of European Analysis. Comments and
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 Bucharest's ability to bring its military up to NATO standards, however, will
remain constrained by Romania's economic problems. .
-- The local press reports that Parliament rejected Tinca's 1994
budget request for additional funds to support Partnership for
Peace.
-? Military enterprises controlled by the Defense Ministry have
suffered as procurement fallen, and an official has warned of
major layoffs.
. =:hal
Tinca is also working to ease Bucharest's sense of isolation by improving
relations with Moscow and Kiev, according to press reports.
The introduction of Russian peacekeepers into Bosnia last winter
strengthened Romania's concern by creating two flashpoints--the
former Yugoslavia on the western border and Moldova in the
east--with a Russian military presence.
-- Tinca has hosted both the Russian and Ukrainian Defense
Ministers to discuss coo 7777r~7.f spare parts,
Tinca almost certainly shares Bucharest's continuing concern about Yugoslavia.
Bucharest has cooperated with UN economic -sanctions against
Serbia, undermining its relationship with a traditional ally as part
of a calculated bid to improve ties with the West.
O
fficials worry that Romanian faces some of the same problems
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11 border aisputes,
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