Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SOFIA1639
2006-12-06 08:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

BULGARIA: SA/LW DESTRUCTION HITS A ROADBLOCK

Tags:  PARM PREL AFIN MARR BU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSF #1639 3400838
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 060838Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2921
INFO RUEAADN/DTRA DULLES WASHINGTON DC//CT// PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SOFIA 001639 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR NORDBERG, A/LM/AQM FOR KOSAR, PM/WRA FOR ADAMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL AFIN MARR BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: SA/LW DESTRUCTION HITS A ROADBLOCK

REF: A. STATE 159318

B. EMBASSY SOFIA DIP. NOTE #353

C. BG MFA DIP. NOTE #54-36-278

D. USG CONTRACT #S-LMAQM-01-D-0163

E. SENIOR-ADAMS EMAILS

UNCLAS SOFIA 001639

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR NORDBERG, A/LM/AQM FOR KOSAR, PM/WRA FOR ADAMS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL AFIN MARR BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: SA/LW DESTRUCTION HITS A ROADBLOCK

REF: A. STATE 159318

B. EMBASSY SOFIA DIP. NOTE #353

C. BG MFA DIP. NOTE #54-36-278

D. USG CONTRACT #S-LMAQM-01-D-0163

E. SENIOR-ADAMS EMAILS


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see Paragraph 5.


2. (SBU) Embassy Sofia and the GoB are eager to begin work on
the USG-financed destruction of excess Small Arms/Light
Weapons articles authorized in reftel A. Logistical
obstacles remain, however, before the $400,000 in authorized
assistance can be put to use in destroying these potentially
destabilizing articles.


3. (SBU) BACKGROUND: From 2001-2004, the U.S. funded
destruction of excess Bulgarian SA/LW through a direct
contract with Bulgarian contractor TEREM (ref. D). In
September 2006, however, the Political-Military Bureau
advised a different strategy -- obligating assistance funds
via diplomatic note and relying on the GoB to execute a
contract for implementation of the work. Bulgarian contacts
were happy to agree to our proposed dip. note, but have
informed us that it will be impossible for the GoB to execute
a contract for this work. In the opinion of the Ministry of
Defense, such an approach is unworkable for numerous reasons,
including the fact that it would violate the terms of our VAT
exemption under our bilateral assistance agreement, and the
requirement under Bulgarian law for the MoD to initiate an
extensive tender procedure for any work to be performed. Due
to the Bulgarian government's unwillingness to prepare a
contract and the lack of an approved amendment to our USG
contract, SA/LW destruction funds are sitting unused.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: We currently have a valid fund cite (ref.
A),an indefinite quantity contract (ref. D),and a binding
diplomatic agreement (refs. B & C) on this subject. In order
for this project to move forward, however, we need an
approved contract amendment allowing these funds to be
obligated under the terms of our existing contract. If a
contract amendment is not approved, we will be unable to use
these funds for their dedicated purpose. END COMMENT.


5. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests Department assistance
in approving a contract amendment to ref. D in order to allow
reftel A funds to be spent for SA/LW destruction.


BEYRLE