BULGARIAN AMB DISCUSSES MILITARY, TRAINING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002317

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR BU IR GR NATO IZ
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN AMB DISCUSSES MILITARY, TRAINING
CONTRIBUTIONS

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David M. Satterfield for Reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Bulgarian Ambassador Valeri Ratchev told
A/DCM Speckhard June 29 that his visit to Iraq would help him
rto refute statements by Iraqi exiles in Bulgaria about how
dangerous Iraq service was. Bulgarian forces were positive
about their conditions in Iraq, Ratchev noted, and he hopes
to get Bulgarian Deputy PM/Foreign Minister Kalfin to visit
Iraq in late October. Ratchev added that Bulgaria and Greece
will provide 30 Iraqi officers with military training. In
addition, Bulgaria plans to train 30 police officers and to
do more military training next year. Ratchev claimed that
Iraq owes Bulgaria $2 billion (most of it state debt,
although "tens of millions" are commercial) but that Bulgaria
will wait until next year to raise this issue. END SUMMARY.

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BULGARIA'S MILITARY PRESENCE
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2. (SBU) Bulgarian Ambassador Valeri Ratchev met separately
on June 29 with A/DCM and PolMilCouns, but he raised the same
points in both meetings. On Bulgaria's military presence in
Iraq, Ratchev said that he had visited the Bulgarian
contingent at Camp Ashraf so that he could knowledgeably
counter statements of Iraqi exiles in Bulgaria about how
dangerous Iraq service was. In reality, Ratchev stated,
Bulgarian forces were positive about their conditions and the
officers made no requests. Most Bulgarians did not know the
camp was located in an isolated desert area of Diyala
province rather than the more dangerous environs of the
provincial capital, Baqubah. Moreover, Ratchev noted, they
only were guarding those Mujehddin-e Khalq (MEK) members who
were being processed for repatriation. On MG Gardner's
recommendation, Ratchev said that he intends to send
Bulgarian journalists to Camp Ashraf to see conditions for
themselves in order to win more public attention for boosting
Bulgarian engagement with Iraqis. Bulgaria's one-year
commitment ran out in March 2007; after a new UNSCR, Ratchev
explained, Bulgaria could consider "enhancing" its mission.


3. (C) Ratchev said that he hopes to get Bulgarian Deputy
PM/Foreign Minister Kalfin to visit Iraq in late October,
after the next Bulgarian unit rotates in. This would be a
good time, Ratchev predicted, because by then the Iraq
Compact and the Erbil Reconstruction Conference would be
underway.


4. (C) Ratchev said that the Iranians are offering to help
more with those former MEK members applying for repatriation
from Kut. In Ratchev's view, this gives the Iranians a
common interest with the Bulgarians. Also, he noted, those
MEK who are interned have a new camp and better facilities.

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TRAINING PROGRAMS TO BE LAUNCHED
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5. (C) On political-military ties, Ratchev reported that
Bulgaria is about to launch a Bulgarian-Greek military
training program to begin August 12 at the Bulgarian Land
Forces Academy. Aimed at 30 junior and mid-level Iraqi
officers, the program would train the trainers in tactical
combat skills (which Ratchev noted was called "peace
support"). The Greek Government's Center for Peace Support
Operations would provide transport and seven lecturers,
Ratchev explained. Ratchev said that, in order to prepare a
program for next year, he had been in contact with the NATO
Training Mission in Baghdad to get information on Iraq's
training needs and priorities. Bulgaria also hopes to start
a Bulgaria-only basic police training program for 30 police
officers and is awaiting names from the GOI.


6. (C) On economics, Ratchev said that, in the past, Bulgaria
had been involved in major infrastructure programs in Iraq
such as airports and medical facilities. One could not
revitalize those past relations, he noted, which had been
based on political or ideological ties. Ratchev hoped,
however, that friendly relations from Bulgaria's current
engagement could form the basis for future commercial links.
Ratchev pointed out that Iraq owes Bulgaria $2 billion, most
of it state debt, although "tens of millions" are commercial.
Bulgaria would wait until next year to raise this issue,
Ratchev said, since Sofia now is focused on its EU
application.

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LOOKING FOR AN INTERIM EMBASSY

BAGHDAD 00002317 002 OF 002


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7. (SBU) Bulgaria is looking for a new interim property,
Ratchev reported, since the Bulgarian embassy in Baghdad had
been seriously damaged. Ratchev said that they had found a
property in the International Zone where they could move
within two months. He asked for U.S. support with the
International Zone Property Committee.
Khalilzad