Published by Wikileaks & Bivol.bg
date: 11/29/2005 16:02 refid: 05SOFIA1987 origin: Embassy Sofia classification: SECRET destination: header: This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 001987 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2015 TAGS: MARR, PGOV, PREL, BU SUBJECT: U.S.- BULGARIA SECURITY RELATIONSHIP: PUSHING ON AN OPEN DOOR Classified By: Amb. John Beyrle, for reasons 1.4 a and d. 1. (C) SUMMARY. The U.S.- Bulgaria security relationship is strong and shows no signs of weakening after the August formation of a three-party coalition including the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). Despite our concerns in the pre-election period, the coalition remains a solid ally supporting U.S. interests by fighting terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, negotiating a U.S. military presence in Bulgaria, and promoting regional security through deployments in Bosnia and Kosovo. The GOB faces considerable political risks in deepening our security relationship as significant elements of the Bulgarian population remain skeptical of close military cooperation with the U.S. absent the perception of tangible benefits to Bulgaria. END SUMMARY. AN ALLY IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM -------------------------------------- 2. (C) Bulgaria is a strong ally in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). It is a coalition member in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and has had a 400-man battalion in Iraq since 2003. To date, Bulgaria has suffered 93 military casualties in Iraq, 13 killed and 80 wounded. This is the highest casualty rate of any coalition member, based on the number of killed and wounded as a percentage of the contingent's size. Bulgaria is spending significant amounts of its own funds to support the deployment. Despite the high cost in both money and lives, the new government has back-tracked on its campaign promise to withdraw immediately from Iraq. Instead, they have engaged us in an intensive dialogue on possible alternative missions. At the same time, the Socialist-led government has delayed the pullout of troops from MNF-I until after the December 15 Iraqi elections at our behest, this despite a legislative mandate to bring the troops home by December 31. 3. (C) As the battalion in MNF-I prepares to begin its scheduled redeployment to Bulgaria, the GOB is rapidly moving toward a follow-on OIF mission. The mission under consideration involves sending 120 soldiers to Camp Ashraf to guard Mujahedin e Khalq (MEK) internees, the Iranian opposition group that received assistance from Iraq under Saddam. The GOB is nearing a decision on this new mission despite the fact that 80% of the Bulgarian public opposes any military presence in Iraq at all. The decision to take on the MEK mission will be a complete the reversal of the Socialist Party's election pledge to immediately withdraw from Iraq. In addition to its substantial contribution in Iraq, 80 Bulgarian soldiers are part of ISAF in Afghanistan, and Bulgaria has accepted the Kabul International Airport security mission, which will bring their ISAF contingent up to 200-300 in 2006. OUT OF THE MANPADS BUSINESS --------------------------- 4. (S) The GOB provides valuable assistance to the USG in the areas of counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation, including outstanding operational intelligence cooperation against terrorist and WMD targets around the world. In October the USG and the GOB concluded a joint weapons reduction project in which Bulgaria sent 2608 MANPADS to the U.S. and destroyed another 2385 at home. The remaining stocks of MANPADS in Bulgaria are held by the MOD for the exclusive use of the Bulgarian military. Under our agreement, the GOB must consult with us prior to granting an export license for MANPADS or MANPADS components to any end user outside the EU or NATO. This political agreement, along with the elimination of Bulgaria's commercial stockpile, marks the end of Bulgaria as a potential proliferator of MANPADS. Once again, the decision entailed some political risk to the GOB, which already faces high unemployment in the defense sector. BASING TALKS ON TRACK --------------------- 5. (C) Bulgaria is negotiating a supplemental status of forces agreement and defense cooperation agreement that would grant U.S. access to Bulgarian military facilities in support of the Eastern European Task Force concept. A negotiating team led by Amb. Loftis made substantial progress during talks in Sofia in September and November. The team plans another visit to Sofia in January 2006. Bulgarian officials from the President and Prime Minister on down have expressed strong public support for U.S. basing, despite the fact that 60% of the Bulgarian people oppose the stationing of foreign troops in Bulgaria. 6. (C) The Bulgarian military bases under discussion are already used for bilateral training exercises. Exercise Immediate Response '06, scheduled for summer 2006, will demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy a forward-stationed strategic reserve force. It will include trilateral live-fire and training activities with U.S. Bulgarian, and Romanian forces. The U.S. contingent will be approximately 400 troops. Bulgaria's Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET) budgets have made exercises such as this possible, and they serve as enablers for a stronger strategic security relationship. CONTRIBUTING TO REGIONAL SECURITY --------------------------------- 7. (C) As a NATO member and EU candidate, Bulgaria sets a strong example for western Balkan countries. Our contacts within the government frequently mention Bulgaria's efforts to reach out to Macedonia, Albania, and Croatia in support of their NATO and EU aspirations. Bulgaria is also active in supporting Georgia's involvement in the Partnership for Peace and its desire for broader Euro-Atlantic integration. Bulgaria is making concrete contributions to regional peacekeeping operations. In Bosnia, 198 Bulgarian soldiers participate in EUFOR, and 42 Bulgarian soldiers are in KFOR in Kosovo. Bulgaria can -- and is willing to -- play a positive role in ensuring regional stability in the wake of the Kosovo final status talks. COMMENT ------- 8. (C) The three-party ruling coalition's desire to discuss a follow-on OIF mission and joint basing is admirable given strong public opposition to each. We will work toward an agreement on the new OIF mission by the end of this year, continue our negotiations on joint military facilities, and continue to enhance an already substantial and successful security relationship with Bulgaria. Bulgarian officials, wary of potential parliamentary or popular backlash, continually ask us for ammunition to rebut the "What is Bulgaria getting in return?" question. High-level contact (e.g. visits to Sofia by Generals Jones and Wald, the upcoming Secretary of Defense meeting with MOD Bliznakov in Washington) provides a strong part of the answer. But we should be concerned by the cumulative effect of declining assistance and FMF budgets, especially as we enter the end game of basing negotiations, to ensure we are demonstrating the strongest possible support to a government that is showing domestic political leadership where it counts most for U.S. interests. END COMMENT. BEYRLE
