UNCLAS SOFIA 001527

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL IZ BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA ISSUES STATEMENTS SUPPORTING IRAQI
CONSTITUTION

REF: STATE 158420


1. (SBU) In response to reftel points delivered by DCM to
Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Kyuchukov and Presidential
Foreign Policy Advisor Zlatin Trupkov August 29, President
Purvanov's office and the MFA released the following
supportive statements (informal translation provided by
Embassy Sofia):


2. Statement by President Georgi Purvanov: "The Head of
State expresses his satisfaction on the broad consensus
achieved on the draft for a new Iraqi constitution. Despite
the terror and bloodshed, the Iraqi people made an important
step forward in the political process, which lays the
foundation of a democratic and peaceful Iraq. The Bulgarian
President hopes that the Iraqi authorities, with the
assistance of the international community, will succeed in
meeting the deadlines - October 15 for holding a referendum
on the constitution and holding new elections in the middle
of December 2005. The Republic of Bulgaria will continue to
firmly support the independence, sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Iraq."


3. Statement by the MFA: "The Republic of Bulgaria praises
the courage and resolve of the Iraqi government and the
members of the Committee on the Iraqi Constitution. Despite
the complicated and unstable situation in the country, at
the cost of hard efforts and compromise, they have managed
to present to the Parliament this project. We sincerely
believe that the adoption of a new constitution will offer
the opportunity for building a democratic and fair society,
inevitably connected, on the one hand, with a proud history
and on the other striving for a modern future corresponding
to contemporary values. We hope that all the Iraqi people
will support this document of crucial importance after close
examination of the draft constitution. Thereby it will
become a landmark in the modern history of Iraq and will be
a milestone in the development of a democratic, modern and
law-governed state. Bulgaria will provide its further
support to the efforts of the Iraqi government and people,
which may always rely on our sincere friendship."

BEYRLE