NATO-AFGHANISTAN: BULGARIA WILL NOT LIFT ISAF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000999 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2015 TAGS: PREL MARR AF BU NATO SUBJECT: NATO-AFGHANISTAN: BULGARIA WILL NOT LIFT ISAF CAVEATS SOON REF: STATE 60862 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES PARDEW, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). (C) Bulgaria will not lift its caveats on crowd/riot control and participation in operations beyond their area of responsibility in Afghanistan, according to Col. Ivan Milanov, Director of the Defense Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Defense (MOD). Milanov said that the General Staff and the civilian MOD leadership are aware of the issue, but have decided not to modify Bulgaria's position. He added the MOD's civilian leadership would not make any policy changes before the upcoming June 25 national elections. He also told us, contrary to reftel, Bulgaria has not lifted its caveats on its troops in Kosovo.