U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN BULGARIA: NEXT STEPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000924

SIPDIS


STATE FOR PM AND EUR
DOD FOR OSD-P

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2015
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV BU
SUBJECT: U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN BULGARIA: NEXT STEPS

REF: STATE 85324

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES PARDEW, FOR REASONS 1.4 (A) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: A negotiating team led by Ambassador Robert
Loftis made substantial progress in concluding a supplemental
SOFA with the GOB during talks in Sofia May 16-17. Amb.
Loftis also presented the draft Defense Cooperation Agreement
(DCA) and identified the military facilities of interest to
the USG. While receptive, the GOB interagency delegation
raised several concerns with the draft agreement and also
proposed that it be expanded to include a much larger sphere
of cooperation. The GOB will provide suggested revisions in
2-3 weeks and Amb. Loftis expected to have a new draft that
addresses GOB concerns in 3-4 weeks. With Bulgaria's
upcoming parliamentary elections on June 25, the formation of
a new government and the August break, final consideration by
the GOB will like be delayed until September. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Deputy Defense Minister Ilko Dimitrov led the GOB
delegation, which included Deputy CHOD LTG Atanas Zaprianov,
Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Milkov and Deputy Interior
Minister Boyko Kotsev. Dimitrov told Amb. Loftis that, while
he understood the security benefits brought by an ongoing
U.S. military presence in Bulgaria, the GOB needs to show
more tangible benefits in order to win public support for the
initiative. Dimitrov highlighted the following issues as
areas of concern:

a. Financial Compensation ) Amb. Loftis cited our worldwide
policy against paying rent for use of military facilities.
He also stressed the ancillary economic benefits of our
facilities investments, procurements and employment.

b. Freedom to deploy U.S. Force from Bulgaria ) Amb. Loftis
called this issue critical and outlined the need for maximum
flexibility on use of any forces stationed in Bulgaria.

c. Command and Control of the shared facilities ) The
Bulgarians were reassured that overall command of any
facility would remain with the Bulgarian base commander,
although specific areas/functions might be controlled by the
American commander, and U.S. troops would be under American
command and control.

d. Greater specificity on the facilities being requested )
To avoid the need for future Parliamentary approvals, the
Bulgarians asked that we identify all facilities we might
want to use. Amb. Loftis promised language that would
address this concern.

e. Limits on weaponry ) specifically listing nuclear weapons
and landmines as problematic - Amb. Loftis responded the
NATO-Russia agreement prohibited nuclear weapons on the
territory of new NATO members and said he would provide a
future response on the landmine issue.


3. (C) Dimitrov also asked that the agreement address U.S.
assistance for Bulgaria,s military modernization needs. Amb.
Loftis stressed that the DCA would not be a vehicle to
address assistance requests and urged the GOB to view the
mutual benefits to be brought by a U.S. military presence in
Bulgaria.


4. (C) Comment: The Bulgarians will be motivated to resolve
the outstanding issues, but clearly have their eye on
upcoming elections and the need to defend any agreement
before a possibly more hostile Parliament. In the SOFA, they
will be most sensitive on issues inferring a loss of
sovereignty. U.S. freedom to deploy from Bulgaria will
likely be most problematic in the DCA discussions.


5. (U) This cable was cleared with Ambassador Robert Loftis.