Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SOFIA1452
2006-10-17 14:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

BULGARIA SCOLDS NORTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR, SUMMONS

Tags:  PREL PARM KNNP KN IR UN BU 
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VZCZCXRO4232
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSF #1452 2901408
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 171408Z OCT 06 ZEL
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2698
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 001452 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CORRECTED PARA MARKINGS)

DEPT FOR ISN, EAP, IO, AND EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP KN IR UN BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA SCOLDS NORTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR, SUMMONS
IRANIAN

REF: A. STATE 169418

B. STATE 172816

C. SOFIA 1431

Classified By: DCM Alex Karagiannis, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 001452

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CORRECTED PARA MARKINGS)

DEPT FOR ISN, EAP, IO, AND EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2016
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP KN IR UN BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA SCOLDS NORTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR, SUMMONS
IRANIAN

REF: A. STATE 169418

B. STATE 172816

C. SOFIA 1431

Classified By: DCM Alex Karagiannis, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) On October 13, DCM met with Deputy Foreign Minister
Feim Chaushev to follow up on reftel A demarche. Chaushev
emphasized Bulgaria's strong reaction to the test, pointing
out that he had summoned North Korean Ambassador Jo Song Ju
to his office to express his displeasure. In Chaushev's
words, the North Korean Ambassador seemed frightened by the
test and its consequences, quietly noting Chaushev's remarks
and promising to relay them to Pyongyang before meekly
extending an invitation to visit North Korea.


2. (C) According to Chaushev, the Bulgarian policy on North
Korea tracks closely to that of the United States, and he
promised to continue "close coordination" with us as this
policy evolves. He stressed that North Korea should pay a
price for its actions, as states such as Iran were watching
the situation carefully and would be emboldened by perceived
weakness on the part of the international community. To that
end, Chaushev told us, he had taken the unprecedented step of
summoning the Iranian Ambassador to his office in the wake of
the North Korean test to underscore that similar steps by
Iran would not bode well for the bilateral relationship.


3. (C) At the same time, Chaushev argued that the isolation
of North Korea should not be total. He listed a number of
possible sanctions that the EU could discuss at its (then)
upcoming GAERC meeting, including:
-A visa ban on North Korean scientific and technical
personnel,
-Withdrawing EU ambassadors from North Korea,
-A partial embargo on trade with North Korea, and;
-Summoning the North Korean Foreign Minister to Brussels to
express the EU's displeasure.


4. (C) COMMENT: The GOB is strongly on board with our North
Korea policy, and Chaushev deserves credit for his proactive
decision to address his concern to the Iranian Embassy as
well as North Korean representatives. After EU accession on
January 1, 2007, we expect Bulgaria to become a strong voice
for a tough common policy on North Korea, though it will also
be subject to EU consensus-making procedures. END COMMENT.


5. (U) We delivered reftel B talking points to the MFA on
October 17, and will report any substantive response septel.

BEYRLE