BULGARIA HAILS SUCCESSFUL IRAQI VOTE, PLEDGES COOPERATION

UNCLAS SOFIA 002076

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER KPAO IZ BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA HAILS SUCCESSFUL IRAQI VOTE, PLEDGES COOPERATION
WITH NEW GOVERNMENT

Ref: STATE 225860


1. Bulgaria's government congratulated the Iraqi people on the
successful conduct of the December 15 parliamentary elections and
said it was ready to continue its cooperation with the new Iraqi
leadership. In a special public statement issued December 16,
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Dimiter Tsanchev said Bulgaria welcomed
the successful Iraqi vote that marked the onset of a new period of
economic recovery, consolidation of state institutions, security
and legal order in Iraq. "The high voter turnout is evidence of
the Iraqi citizens' will to take the fate of their country in their
own hands and of their desire to ensure a better future for
themselves and the succeeding generations," Tsanchev said. "We
expect the future Iraqi government, which will be elected for a
full four-year term, to work for the establishment of Iraq as a
free, democratic and prospering state, in accordance with the
principles set down in the new Constitution," said the spokesman.
He said, "Bulgaria will continue to contribute, within the
international coalition and NATO, to the stabilization of Iraq."


2. In addition, the Bulgarian state television BNT prime time
newscast aired a report December 16 about 200 Iraqis living in
Bulgaria traveling to Istanbul to vote. The Embassy worked closely
with the Iraqi Embassy in Sofia and local media to ensure coverage
of this story. The report focused on the enthusiasm and euphoria
of the Iraqi citizens who were given the chance to take part in
free and democratic elections for the first long-term legislative
body since the ousting of Saddam's regime. BNT also aired expanded
coverage of the Iraqi expatriate's absentee vote December 17. The
Iraqi Ambassador to Bulgaria and Iraqi embassy staff traveled with
the group to Istanbul. Local press also reported on the Iraqi
elections noting that, despite the threats and several bomb
explosions, voter turnout was high. Newspapers quoted a Defense
Ministry statement that said voting in the area of Diwanya, which
is the Bulgarian troops' area of responsibility, went smoothly and
without incident, with voter turnout around 60 percent.
LEVINE