DUTCH MFA RESPONSE TO ASPARUKHOV DEMARCHE

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 002421 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2013 TAGS: PREL MARR PINR PGOV BU NL NATO SUBJECT: DUTCH MFA RESPONSE TO ASPARUKHOV DEMARCHE REF: STATE 269610 Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARY DALY FOR REASONS 1.5 (B AND D) (S) POLMILOFF DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO MFA SECURITY POLICY BUREAU NATO POLICY CHIEF HANS SANDEE ON SEPTEMBER 24. SANDEE SAID THE DUTCH SHARE U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROSPECTIVE APPOINTMENT OF BRIGO ASPARUKHOV AS INTELLIGENCE ADVISOR TO BULGARIAN PREMIER SAXE-COBURG. THE DUTCH AGREE ON THE NEED FOR A CLEAR SIGNAL TO THE BULGARIANS THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. SANDEE SAID THE DUTCH WOULD LIKELY INSTRUCT THEIR EMBASSY IN SOFIA TO RAISE THIS WITH THE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT. POLMILOFF URGED SANDEE TO RAISE THE MATTER WITH BULGARIAN EMBASSY IN THE HAGUE AS WELL. SANDEE NOTED THAT THERE IS INTEREST IN THE DUTCH PARLIAMENT ABOUT THE EFFECT OF ENLARGEMENT ON NATO SECURITY AND SAID THE GONL DOES NOT WANT THIS ISSUE TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON RATIFICATION. SOBEL