[05SOFIA1902] BULGARIA: PRESIDENT SIGNALS A MEK DECISION IS CLOSE

 date: 11/8/2005 15:39 refid: 05SOFIA1902 origin: Embassy Sofia classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: 04SOFIA196|05SOFIA1882 header: This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.    ----------------- header ends ----------------  C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 001902    SIPDIS    E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2010  TAGS: PREL, MOPS, MARR, KCRM, IZ, BU  SUBJECT: BULGARIA: PRESIDENT SIGNALS A MEK DECISION IS CLOSE    REF: A. 04 SOFIA 0196       B. KOLEV-ABIZAID LETTER 01 NOV 05       C. SOFIA 1882    Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).    1. (C) SUMMARY: In a November 8 meeting with the Ambassador,  President Parvanov mirrored the General Staff's  forward-leaning position on Bulgaria's follow-on activities  in Iraq, indicating the government is now leaning toward the  MEK mission at Camp Ashraf.  He also expressed his optimism  for a positive outcome on bilateral base negotiations and  emphasized the importance of Bulgaria's fight against  organized crime following the murder of prominent businessman  Emil Kyulev.  The President reiterated a previous request  (ref A) for U.S. help in obtaining information on allegations  that Parvanov's Bulgarian Socialist Party benefited from  corrupt oil deals with the government of Saddam Hussein. END  SUMMARY    2. (C) On Iraq, President Parvanov echoed the recent letter  of General Staff Chief Kolev (ref B), referring to a  Bulgarian follow-on mission at Camp Ashraf as if it were  already a firm decision.  In a follow up discussion with the  DCM, Deputy Foreign Minister Kyuchokov said the MFA and MOD  will be sending a joint recommendation in favor of the MEK to  the Council of Ministers.  They hope to have their final  proposal ready for deliberation at the Council's Nov. 17  meeting.  Both Kyuchokov and Parvanov indicated the proposed  force size would be 100-120 troops.  Kyuchokov said the  government is preparing for a negative public reaction to the  decision, but hopes to mute this by emphasizing the  humanitarian nature of the MEK mission and the reduced force  size.  The Ambassador thanked Parvanov for Bulgaria's  continued engagement with the USG throughout the planned  withdrawal of their current battalion.    3. (C) Parvanov also remained optimistic on the issue of  joint basing negotiations, indicating that he expected all  political forces in the country except one (a reference to  the extreme nationalist party "Ataka") to ultimately support  an agreement on U.S. forces in Bulgaria.  Ambassador Beyrle  stressed the importance of reclaiming the basing issue from  Ataka and highlighted Prime Minister Stanishev's recent  positive statements on basing as an example of Bulgarian  politicians shaping public opinion on the issue.    4. (C) The President thanked the Ambassador for U.S. offers  to assist in the murder investigation of banker Emil Kyulev  (ref C).  He emphasized the GOB's seriousness on this issue  and his satisfaction at international and inter-ministerial  cooperation on the investigation.  The Ambassador restated  the U.S.'s willingness to help, but also expressed concern at  the investigation's slow pace and failure to collect basic  pieces of evidence in a timely fashion.  He reminded  President Parvanov that -- despite the GOB,s request for  technical experts -- no evidence has yet been seized that  would require the presence of these experts in Bulgaria.  The  Ambassador noted that Bulgaria may again be losing an  opportunity to demonstrate its seriousness in the fight  against organized crime.    5. (C) Further to the theme of national security, President  Parvanov emphasized the threat of radical nationalism in  Bulgaria as one that "we should not underestimate."  The  President mentioned the success of the recently launched  "Ataka" newspaper, which he claimed had reached a circulation  of 40,000 in a matter of weeks, and raised concerns about  Ataka's financial backers.    6. (SBU) The President expressed great appreciation for the  hospitality shown by President Bush and the First Lady during  his recent White House visit.  Parvanov reserved special  praise for the "meaningful, forceful, and clear" statements  by President Bush on the Bulgarian nurses in Libya, and noted  that the U.S. position had been welcomed by the Bulgarian  public.    7. (C) President Parvanov closed the meeting by repeating a  "special request" previously made in 2004 (ref A).  In light  of the "Petrolgate" scandal, Parvanov asked for U.S. help in  obtaining information regarding ongoing allegations that his  Bulgarian Socialist Party had profited from "oil for  influence" deals with the Saddam Hussein regime.  Parvanov  categorically denied that the BSP had received "a cent" from  Saddam.  He emphasized that this request was not for public  use, but merely for party leaders "to know for ourselves what  this is about."    8. (C) COMMENT: President Parvanov,s White House visit has  been extremely successful in ensuring Bulgaria,s continuing  cooperation on a number of high-profile issues.  The  Government is clearly moving toward the MEK mission, although  concern remains about public reaction.  We will continue to  track the government's discussion, encouraging a positive  decision and developing a public diplomacy strategy that  minimizes negative public response.  END COMMENT  BEYRLE