BULGARIA TO SEND 30 MORE TROOPS TO ISAF

UNCLAS SOFIA 000382 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MARR AF BU NATO SUBJECT: BULGARIA TO SEND 30 MORE TROOPS TO ISAF AFGHANISTAN ¶1. (SBU) The Bulgarian parliament passed a motion on 24 February that will send an additional 30 troops to participate in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). This will raise Bulgaria's total ISAF troop commitment to 65. Bulgaria also has 7 soldiers participating in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). ¶2. (SBU) According to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense, the new contingent will be made up of staff officers, an intelligence and counterintelligence group, a military police unit and a medical team. The extra troops fulfill Bulgaria's commitments made during the NATO Force Generation Conference in November. PARDEW