Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SOFIA1089
2006-08-07 08:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIA NOT IN A POSITION TO OPPOSE INVITATION TO
how-toVZCZCXRO2183 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSF #1089 2190820 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 070820Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2318 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 001089
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA NOT IN A POSITION TO OPPOSE INVITATION TO
BURMA'S FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: STATE 124139
Classified By: BRAD FREDEN, A/DCM, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 001089
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA NOT IN A POSITION TO OPPOSE INVITATION TO
BURMA'S FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: STATE 124139
Classified By: BRAD FREDEN, A/DCM, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1) (C) We delivered reftel to Asya Tsvetanova, MFA,s Burma
desk officer, on Aug. 3. Tsvetanova said that Bulgaria's
pre-accession status in the EU does not give it sufficient
leverage to lobby for a reversal of the decision to invite
Burma's Foreign Minister to the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM) in Helsinki on September 10-11. She pointed out that
Bulgaria shares the EU,s concern with the Burmese human
rights record -- that is why the collective decision was to
invite the FM and not the head of state, as with all other
participants. This is in line with the EU common position
that Burmese officials could attend multilateral meetings if
the meetings are related to human rights, said Tsvetanova.
2) (C) Bulgaria also supports Burmese participation because
it assures the summit will take place, according to
Tsvetanova. This is particularly important because Bulgaria
SIPDIS
and Romania hope the ASEM members will vote to support the
two countries' automatic entry into the organization upon
their EU accession. According to Tsvetanova, Bulgaria has
worked hard to lobby the ASEM members and hopes its efforts
will bear fruit in September.
Beyrle
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA NOT IN A POSITION TO OPPOSE INVITATION TO
BURMA'S FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: STATE 124139
Classified By: BRAD FREDEN, A/DCM, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1) (C) We delivered reftel to Asya Tsvetanova, MFA,s Burma
desk officer, on Aug. 3. Tsvetanova said that Bulgaria's
pre-accession status in the EU does not give it sufficient
leverage to lobby for a reversal of the decision to invite
Burma's Foreign Minister to the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM) in Helsinki on September 10-11. She pointed out that
Bulgaria shares the EU,s concern with the Burmese human
rights record -- that is why the collective decision was to
invite the FM and not the head of state, as with all other
participants. This is in line with the EU common position
that Burmese officials could attend multilateral meetings if
the meetings are related to human rights, said Tsvetanova.
2) (C) Bulgaria also supports Burmese participation because
it assures the summit will take place, according to
Tsvetanova. This is particularly important because Bulgaria
SIPDIS
and Romania hope the ASEM members will vote to support the
two countries' automatic entry into the organization upon
their EU accession. According to Tsvetanova, Bulgaria has
worked hard to lobby the ASEM members and hopes its efforts
will bear fruit in September.
Beyrle