BULGARIA: GOVERNMENT VOTES FOR UNIFIL DEPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 001187 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR P, EUR/NCE, NEA, PM, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS LE BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA: GOVERNMENT VOTES FOR UNIFIL DEPLOYMENT REF: A. STATE 136196 ¶B. STATE 134133 Classified By: CDA Alex Karagiannis, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On August 21, Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Kyuchukov briefed Charge Karagiannis on the Council of Ministers' August 20 decision to deploy troops in support of UNIFIL's expanded mission. Kyuchukov emphasized that the scope of Bulgarian participation in UNIFIL will be determined by three factors: the force's UNSC mandate, contributions by other nations, and Bulgaria's own capabilities. He estimated that the GOB would need at least one month to translate the government's political decision on deployment into boots on the ground in Lebanon. ¶2. (C) In response to previous GOB requests, the Charge provided a copy of the August 17 UNIFIL Concept of Operations document, and drew on reftel A talking points to highlight U.S. concerns about the destabilizing role of Iran and Syria in the current conflict. Kyuchukov thanked Charge for the UN document, which he appeared not to have seen before, noting that it would be difficult for Bulgaria to move forward with preparations while many details of the force (including the lead nation) remained unclear. KARAGIANNIS