Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SOFIA74
2005-01-11 12:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

BULGARIAN PRESIDENT PURVANOV REQUESTS MEETING WITH

Tags:  PGOV BU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000074 

SIPDIS


NSC FOR D.WILSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: (##)
TAGS: PGOV BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PRESIDENT PURVANOV REQUESTS MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT BUSH IN FIRST HALF OF 2005


Classified by Amb. Pardew for reasons 1.4 B & D

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000074

SIPDIS


NSC FOR D.WILSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: (##)
TAGS: PGOV BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PRESIDENT PURVANOV REQUESTS MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT BUSH IN FIRST HALF OF 2005


Classified by Amb. Pardew for reasons 1.4 B & D


1. (SBU) The Chief of Staff to President Purvanov, Andrei
Karaslavov, called on the Ambassador to request a meeting between
the two presidents. Purvanov prefers the first half of this year.


2. (SBU) Karaslavov noted that Bulgaria has been the most stalwart
coalition ally in Iraq, but is the only coalition partner whose
head of state has not had a formal meeting with President Bush.
(Purvanov has had two photo-op/pull-asides with President Bush on
the margins of international meetings.) Purvanov would prefer an
official visit to Washington, but, informally, Karaslavov
suggested another format would work. Karaslavov suggested several
possible dates: March 14-16, late March/early April and June.


3. (SBU) The Bulgarian Ambassador in Washington, Elena
Poptodorova, has previously raised with the NSC the possibility of
a meeting, and we expect that she will do so again upon her return
to Washington later this week.


4. (SBU) Purvanov has been important in staying the course on
Iraq. He is a very popular, non-controversial political figure in
Bulgaria. It is, however, important to note that during this
election year, the leader of his party (Bulgarian Socialist Party
Q BSP) has been slowly, but steadily turning up the rhetoric on
withdrawing Bulgarian troops from Iraq.


5. (SBU) More important than election year posturing, however, is
the fact that Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg (National Movement
of Simeon II Q NDSS),who is gaining ground in his re-election
campaign, has also asked for a meeting with President Bush before
the June 26 elections.


6. (C) COMMENT: Post supports a Bush-Purvanov meeting for the
reasons outlined, but finds the timing of the request problematic.
Unless the White House can accommodate meetings with both Purvanov
and Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg, post believes scheduling a Bush-
Saxe-Coburg meeting should take precedence. The Ambassador would
like to discuss both during Washington consulatations scheduled
next week. END COMMENT