COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVES BULGARIA'S FOLLOW-ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000185

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR IZ BU
SUBJECT: COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVES BULGARIA'S FOLLOW-ON
MISSION IN IRAQ

Classified By: Amb. John Beyrle for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) SUMMARY. The Council of Ministers voted February 2 to
approve Bulgaria's new mission in Iraq to guard Iranian
internees at Camp Ashraf located north of Baghdad. In
announcing the decision, Defense Minister Bliznakov said,
"The decision to dispatch this mission fully corresponds with
our national interests and commitments to our coalition
partners." We expect Parliament to approve the decision with
the chief opposition coming from the extreme nationalist
Ataka party. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) In a conversation with Amb. Beyrle February 1, Prime
Minister Stanishev said the follow-on mission had the full
support of the three-party governing coalition (which has a
solid majority in Parliament),as well as the center-right
opposition parties. Nonetheless, he predicted that the
far-right Ataka party deputies would provoke a sharp debate.
Beyrle said he appreciated Stanishev's consistent public
statements explaining the importance of continued Bulgarian
involvement in bringing stability to Iraq. Recent polling
data indicates strong public opposition to involvement in
Iraq, particularly among voters in Stanishev's own party.


3. (U) According to Bulgarian law, the Parliamentary Defense
Committee must review the proposal for the new mission within
15 days. The proposal must then be included on the
Parliament's plenary session agenda along with a
recommendation from the committee. Parliament will make the
final decision by a simple majority of the members present.
Only one reading is required. In December 2005, Bulgaria
withdrew its 450-soldier contingent from Diwaniya Province
following Parliament's passage of a resolution requiring the
withdrawal by the end of 2005.


4. (C) In a February 1 meeting with the Ambassador, Bulgarian
CHOD Kolev reiterated the military's strong support for
continued military participation in the Coalition, observing
that his forces had started preparing for the follow-on
mission in November. He appreciated the visit by two U.S.
military officers in January to help prepare the contingent,
and was looking forward to the upcoming CENTCOM trainers'
visit. He said he expected the contingent would be ready to
deploy with all 154 members by mid-March.


5. (C) COMMENT: The approval of a new mission in Iraq
confirms a significant evolution in the position of the
ruling Socialist Party, which only six months ago was
campaigning strongly against further Bulgarian involvement in
Iraq. It demonstrates that the Bulgarian government is
willing to step up to tough decisions affecting our military
partnership, even in the face of strong public opposition.
Negative reaction may be somewhat defused by the Government's
"slow release" of this pending decision during the last
month. Despite vigorous protests from the Ataka Party, which
will be well covered by the media, the Government holds a
majority in Parliament, and we anticipate quick approval.
END COMMENT.
Beyrle