Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SOFIA139
2005-01-21 16:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

BULGARIA/IRAQ: PRESIDENT CALLS FOR A "QUICK

Tags:  PREL PGOV MOPS IZ BU 
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UNCLAS SOFIA 000139 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS IZ BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA/IRAQ: PRESIDENT CALLS FOR A "QUICK
BUT NOT PREMATURE" WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS

Ref: SOFIA 00067

UNCLAS SOFIA 000139

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS IZ BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA/IRAQ: PRESIDENT CALLS FOR A "QUICK
BUT NOT PREMATURE" WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS

Ref: SOFIA 00067


1. (U) SUMMARY: Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov
called January 21 for a "quick but not premature"
withdrawal from the multinational force in Iraq, urging
parliament to bring the Bulgarian troops home by the
end of 2005. Purvanov, who addressed Parliament and
the diplomatic corps on the third anniversary of his
taking office, said that after the elections in Iraq
the coalition would need to develop a tentative
timetable for ending the foreign military presence
there. "The debate on the issue should no longer be
delayed, and Bulgaria's future presence in Iraq should
be discussed both within the coalition and among
domestic political forces," said Purvanov. Bulgaria,
he assured, would continue to act as a stable and
predictable partner. He also proposed that Bulgaria's
2005 general elections be held on June 25, and
recommended holding a referendum on EU membership in
the late autumn of this year or early spring 2006. END
SUMMARY


2. (U) Purvanov said "the elections in Iraq should
open a new stage in the stabilization of the country,
its democratization, and its achievement of
sovereignty, including withdrawal of foreign troops.
It is important to reaffirm Bulgaria's principled
position that we will not make any decisions under
terrorist pressure, that we are a part of the united
allied configuration and the anti-terror coalition, and
that Bulgaria is a reliable and predictable partner."


3. (U) After Bulgaria consults with its allies,
Purvanov said the National Assembly should hold a
debate, review the Bulgarian mission in Iraq, and fix
the end of 2005 as the deadline for the withdrawal of
the Bulgarian contingent in Iraq. He noted the 2005
deadline was in line with the positions envisaged in UN
Security Council Resolution 1546. The deadline may
later be extended if the UN, the European Union, or
NATO decide to assist Iraq's further recovery at the
request of the new Iraqi authorities, Purvanov added.
He said that after the January elections, Bulgaria may
also consider reducing and/or transforming its presence
in Iraq, shifting the focus toward training of Iraqi
forces.


4. (U) The President's proposal for a parliamentary
debate on Iraq was promptly backed by the opposition
Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP),which Purvanov chaired
before taking office in January 2002. Socialist leader
Sergei Stanishev, whose party is expected to win a
plurality in the next parliament, caused a stir last
week when he announced the BSP would withdraw
Bulgaria's troops from Iraq if it manages to form a
coalition after the elections (reftel). Stanishev
reaffirmed this stance January 21, saying the BSP's
position was in line with the position of most European
states and corresponded with the opinion of the
majority of Bulgarians.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: Purvanov, who generally has supported
the continued deployment of troops in Iraq, took a
balanced position that responds to the expectations of
most Bulgarians. At the same time, he allowed for the
possible extension of Bulgaria's military presence
beyond 2005 following further UN action and/or a
request by the Iraqi government. He highlighted the
need for consultations with coalition partners and
noted "the unfavorable effect of the sudden pullout of
coalition members from Iraq." The President's stance
contrasts with the position of his former colleagues in
the BSP, who advocate a withdrawal immediately after
the January elections. END COMMENT