Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SOFIA933
2005-05-25 13:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

TOP GENERAL DISCUSSES WAY AHEAD FOR BULGARIAN

Tags:  MARR PREL MOPS 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 000933 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2015
TAGS: MARR PREL MOPS BU
SUBJECT: TOP GENERAL DISCUSSES WAY AHEAD FOR BULGARIAN
MILITARY IN THE COMING YEAR

REF: (A) 04 SOFIA 2016 (B) SOFIA 357 (C) 04 SOFIA 593

Classified By: Ambassador James Pardew, reasons, 1.4(B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000933

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2015
TAGS: MARR PREL MOPS BU
SUBJECT: TOP GENERAL DISCUSSES WAY AHEAD FOR BULGARIAN
MILITARY IN THE COMING YEAR

REF: (A) 04 SOFIA 2016 (B) SOFIA 357 (C) 04 SOFIA 593

Classified By: Ambassador James Pardew, reasons, 1.4(B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On the eve of his renewed mandate, Bulgarian
Chief of the General Staff (CHOD) General Nikolai Kolev gave
us an overview of the direction of the Bulgarian Armed Forces
for the next calendar year during a meeting on May 16. Kolev
sees Bulgaria as a strategic partner of the U.S., with a
small, but capable, military. Kolev also outlined large
military modernization projects, which the General Staff
continues to support even though the GOB does not have funds
to cover. He stated that the military firmly supports the
concept of U.S. bases in Bulgaria and expressed regret over
the GOB's decision to end the country's military involvement
in Iraq at the end of 2005. END SUMMARY

--------------
MOD VS. GENERAL STAFF
--------------


2. (C) The Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the General Staff
have battled privately and publicly during the past three
years over resources and legal issues. Kolev explained that
numerous laws constrain his ability to manage the military.
The CHOD is now able to deploy selected units out of country,
without soliciting volunteers from across the Armed Forces,
but can not direct the deployment of soldiers without them
first volunteering. He said Bulgaria was unable to quickly
fulfill NATO,s request to send five instructors to Iraq to
train local security forces because no one volunteered, and
legally the CHOD could not direct soldiers to go on the
mission (ref B). In order to fill these training positions,
Bulgaria's next troop rotation in Iraq, BULCON V, will
include 10 officers and NCOs whose sole task during their
deployment will be to train one Iraqi security force
battalion.

-------------- --------------
IRAQ: DISAPPOINTED AT THE GOB DECISION TO WITHDRAW
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Kolev expressed to us that he is disappointed at the
GOB's political decision to withdraw the Bulgarian battalion
from Iraq at year's end. He emphasized that this deployment
has provided invaluable military experience and advanced the

development of Bulgaria's military. Kolev added that last
month he proposed to the MOD an alternate means of
maintaining a military presence in Iraq, and suggested that
Bulgaria send a company of approximately 120 personnel as
force protection for the United Nations. This proposal,
however, was never addressed. Kolev hopes that the next
government will re-consider Bulgarian military contributions
to the Coalition in Iraq.

--------------
AFGHANISTAN: READY TO ENGAGE SEEBRIG
--------------


4. (C) Kolev stated that Bulgaria has increased its presence
in Afghanistan. He also proposed to deploy HQ SEEBRIG, which
comes under Bulgarian command on 1 July 2005, to provide the
command element of ISAF. He said this idea would have to be
first considered by the Council of Ministers in November. He
does not see much of a future for SEEBRIG if the unit does
not deploy operationally soon.


5. (C) Kolev said that Bulgaria has a clear understanding of
the responsibilities involved in assuming control of Kabul
airport in August 2006 and has already begun its training
program. He anticipated 120 people will be needed to run the
airport and another 300 for force protection. Should no other
nation volunteer forces for this NATO operation, he claimed
Bulgaria would provide them.

-------------- --------------
MODERNIZATION: STILL CHAMPAGNE DREAMS AND BEER BUDGET
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Kolev acknowledged political sensitivities regarding
U.S. and European companies bidding for future military
modernization contracts, especially in light of Bulgaria's
anticipated EU membership in 2007. He added that such
projects are being directed to maintain a "balance" between
U.S. and EU interests. He claimed Bulgaria has submitted
through NATO channels a request for infrastructure funding
support for the following items: Bezmer, Graf Ignatievo and
Cheshigorovo air bases, Atyia (Burgas) naval base, and a


naval surveillance operations center. The air bases and
naval base are all areas that the USG has interest in placing
forward operating sites.


7. (C) Current major modernization projects high on the his
list were purchasing new transpQ aircraft, overhauling
Bulgaria's aging MIG-29s and perhaps purchasing new multirole
fighter jets. Kolev said he is pressing the MOD to complete
the contract for eight C-27J aircraft, but the Ministry of
Finance has yet to agree. Bulgaria is also seeking to
overhaul 10 MIG-29s to extend their life another five or six
years. Kolev expressed his preference that the next
Bulgarian airframe be a U.S. multirole fighter, and
emphasized in detail his distinct preference for F-18s over
F-16s. However, he did not address the financial means by
which Bulgaria could purchase such aircraft (ref A).

--------------
BLACK SEA
--------------


8. (c) The Black Sea is one of Kolev,s priorities due to the
problems of illegal trafficking, potential use by terrorists,
and the future shipment of Caspian Sea oil. When Bulgaria
became a NATO member, Kolev said he proposed to his Turkish
and Romanian colleagues that they combine efforts to secure
the Black Sea. However, he characterized Turkey as trying to
dominate this effort rather than cooperate. For example,
Kolev claims when he suggested rotating command and control
of submarines, Turkey insisted on maintaining permanent
command of these assets.


9. (C) The Bulgarian military has four major modernization
projects associated with the Black Sea - building a Naval
Surveillance Operations Center (NSOC),plus purchases of
submarines, corvettes, and frigates. Kolev CHOD wants the
NSOC to be a joint Bulgarian and U.S. project because this
will provide the U.S. with an alternative to Turkish
surveillance of the Black Sea. But despite Bulgaria's
Strategic Defense Review findings and funding constraints,
Kolev intends to maintain a submarine capability in the Black
Sea (ref C). He also stated that if Bulgaria chooses a German
company competing for an estimated 500 million euro corvette
contract, the German government has promised to donate two
small submarines to Bulgaria. Bulgaria has already agreed to
purchase a 2.5 ton Belgian frigate that should be fully
operational next year.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


10. (C) This was an open and frank discussion in which Kolev
clearly wanted to lay out the road ahead for the Bulgarian
Armed Forces during the next and last year of his leadership
mandatQHowever, he failed to address the financial means
for Bulgarian to carry out its ambitious military
modernization program. Being close to the Bulgarian Socialist
Party, which is set to be the largest party in parliament
after the coming June elections, Kolev is positioned to
continue to push for his agenda with the MOD.