FOUR MORE BULGARIAN TROOPS TO JOIN NATO

UNCLAS SOFIA 000267 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL IZ BU NATO SUBJECT: FOUR MORE BULGARIAN TROOPS TO JOIN NATO TRAINING MISSION IN IRAQ REF: USNATO 0054 (SBU) Bulgaria will send four more trainers to take part in the NATO Training Mission - Iraq (NTM-I) bringing their total to five, the Intergovernmental Council for NATO Integration decided on February 2. Deputy Minister of Defense Ilko Dimitrov confirmed that if the Bulgarian Council of Ministers approves the decision as expected, the trainers could leave for Baghdad as soon as required by NATO. However, due to a recent motion of no confidence in parliament, the Council of Ministers has not yet scheduled a vote on this decision. We will inform Washington when the trainers are approved.