EXTRADITION: BULGARIA EAGER TO NEGOTIATE, ASKS FOR

UNCLAS SOFIA 001195

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR NCE, L/LEI (KELLER & GUILANI),
DOJ/OIA FOR DEBORAH CARUTH & ANDREA TISI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KTIA BU
SUBJECT: EXTRADITION: BULGARIA EAGER TO NEGOTIATE, ASKS FOR
LATER DATE

REF: SECSTATE 136385


1. On August 22, we delivered the draft texts of the proposed
extradition treaty and mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT)
to Ministry of Justice's Peter Rashkov, Director of the
International Cooperation and European Integration Office,
and Vesselina Maleva, Head of the International Legal
Assistance Department. We delivered same separately to MFA's
Legal Advisor Dimana Dermendjieva. All welcomed the drafts
and reiterated the GOB's willingness to begin negotiations.
Rashkov's office will lead Bulgaria's negotiating team, which
will include representatives from the MOJ, MOI, MFA, and
possibly the Prosecutor's Office. He said the MOJ will review
the draft, forwarding us any comments, and will present it to
the Council of Ministers to be granted negotiation authority.


2. While emphasizing the GOB's interest to begin negotiations
as soon as possible, Rashkov cited pressing issues related to
Bulgaria's EU accession in requesting a delay of the USG
negotiators' visit until the first week of October. Bulgaria
is expected to join the EU in January 2007, but the
confirmation of its accession is tied to a final report of
the EU Commission due to be released on 26 September.
Rashkov and his staff will be in Germany during the same week
to discuss accession-related issues in the field of Justice
and Home Affairs (JHA),and he expects the Council of
Ministers to be bogged down with EU related work during the
same period. We concur with Rashkov that an October meeting
will likely be more productive.


3. Post's point of contact is political officer Anna
Radivilova, who can be reached at (359 2) 937-5276 and via
email at radivilovaa@state.gov.
KARAGIANNIS