BULGARIA: CFE ENTITLEMENT TRANSFERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 001451 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE FOR NORDBERG, EUR/RPM FOR STERLING E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA: CFE ENTITLEMENT TRANSFERS REF: A. BUCHAREST 1576 ¶B. STERLING-FREDEN EMAILS Classified By: DCM Alex Karagiannis, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We delivered CFE talking points on October 13 to Dimitar Dimitrov, head of the MFA's OSCE & Regional Security Department. He expressed openness to the possibility of approaching Greece on CFE entitlement transfers, but he did not make any commitment. Noting bruising discussions on the Amended CFE Treaty and the Vienna 99 document, Dimitrov focused on getting the mechanics right -- suggesting that if the GOB does approach Athens, it will do so very carefully. ¶2. (C) Dimitrov stressed Bulgaria's commitment to the goal of making U.S.-Bulgarian joint training as effective as possible, and promised to take our proposal up the line. He did not close the door on other solutions however, notably suggesting that the required ACVs could be included under Bulgaria's quota if an acceptable solution could not be found under the Western quota. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: We will continue to work this issue with others in the Bulgarian government, and believe we can gain traction for our point of view. Our initial impression is that the MFA's CFE experts focused on perceived procedural difficulties with our proposal rather than clear-cut solutions, and would not rush to Athens. END COMMENT. ¶4. (C) We ask that the Department continue to keep us informed of its efforts to engage the Greeks on this issue. BEYRLE