BULGARIA: DIP NOTE ON MANPADS SALES TO EGYPT

S E C R E T SOFIA 001204 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/CATR, EUR/NCE, EUR/PRA, PM/WRA, L/PM E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2016 TAGS: PARM PREL MARR MASS ETTC EG BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA: DIP NOTE ON MANPADS SALES TO EGYPT REF: A. STATE 6935 ¶B. SOFIA 186 ¶C. SOFIA 1119 ¶D. 05 STATE 213520 Classified By: Acting DCM Brad Freden, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is an action request -- please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (S) On August 24, we received a Diplomatic Note from Parisa Popnikolova of the MFA's International Security Directorate which formally informs the U.S. of a planned MANPADS component transfer in accordance with the U.S.-Bulgaria MANPADS Consultation Plan (ref A & B). Informal notification of the proposed sale was previously reported in reftel C. ¶3. (S) The MFA's unofficial translation of the Diplomatic Note follows: (Embassy note in brackets) -------------- Republic of Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs SECRET - Releasable to the Governments of Bulgaria and the SIPDIS United States only RB201000-001-05/3-165/24.08.2006g The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States in Sofia and has the honor, in accordance with the agreed consultation plan in January 2006 for the implementation of Article V of the Political Understanding between the Governments of the Republic of Bulgaria and the United States on the demilitarization and transfer of Man-portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS),to notify it of the following: An application for the export of 100 spare parts sets (without electronic components) for launching mechanism 9P58-Strela 2M by (Bulgarian arms manufacturer) Samel-90 to the Ministry of Defense of Egypt has been submitted to the Interdepartmental Commission on Export Control and Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction with the Minister of Economy and Energy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States in Sofia the assurances of its highest consideration. Sofia, 24 August 2006 Embassy of the United States, Sofia END TEXT OF DIPLOMATIC NOTE. -------------- ¶4. (S) Post requests Department guidance on an official response to the proposed sale. Embassy POC is Political Officer John Senior (SeniorJM@state.sgov.gov). KARAGIANNIS