Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SOFIA249
2006-02-16 15:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES APPROVE BULGARIAN MISSION
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UNCLAS SOFIA 000249
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM EU IZ BU
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES APPROVE BULGARIAN MISSION
AT CAMP ASHRAF
UNCLAS SOFIA 000249
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM EU IZ BU
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES APPROVE BULGARIAN MISSION
AT CAMP ASHRAF
1. The parliamentary committees on foreign policy and
defense voted in a joint session February 15 to approve the
proposal to send Bulgarian military personnel to Camp Ashraf
in Iraq. Four MPs from the ultra-nationalist Ataka party
voted against the proposal as expected, and the other 14 MPs
representing the ruling three-party coalition and the center-
right opposition supported it. During the discussions
attended by Defense Minister Bliznakov, Foreign Minister
Kalfin, and CHOD Kolev, MPs from the center-right parties,
headed by ex-PM Kostov, raised concerns that the military
was being asked to execute police functions. Nonetheless,
these center-right members indicated they would back the
decision when Parliament votes on final approval in a
plenary session. Most of the questions for the ministers
came from Ataka and focused on the level of security at Camp
Ashraf and the potential risks to the military.
2. The two committees will prepare separate reports
recommending that Parliament ratify the proposal. The
reports are expected to be submitted early next week to
Speaker Pirinski who will include them in the agenda for the
plenary session, which could take place as early as February
22. Following Parliament's approval, both the decision to
send the troops and the bilateral agreement, represented by
an exchange of diplomatic notes between the MFA and Embassy
Sofia, need to be published in the State Gazette. The
President will then issue a decree for the publication of
the law for ratification of the bilateral agreement.
BEYRLE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM EU IZ BU
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES APPROVE BULGARIAN MISSION
AT CAMP ASHRAF
1. The parliamentary committees on foreign policy and
defense voted in a joint session February 15 to approve the
proposal to send Bulgarian military personnel to Camp Ashraf
in Iraq. Four MPs from the ultra-nationalist Ataka party
voted against the proposal as expected, and the other 14 MPs
representing the ruling three-party coalition and the center-
right opposition supported it. During the discussions
attended by Defense Minister Bliznakov, Foreign Minister
Kalfin, and CHOD Kolev, MPs from the center-right parties,
headed by ex-PM Kostov, raised concerns that the military
was being asked to execute police functions. Nonetheless,
these center-right members indicated they would back the
decision when Parliament votes on final approval in a
plenary session. Most of the questions for the ministers
came from Ataka and focused on the level of security at Camp
Ashraf and the potential risks to the military.
2. The two committees will prepare separate reports
recommending that Parliament ratify the proposal. The
reports are expected to be submitted early next week to
Speaker Pirinski who will include them in the agenda for the
plenary session, which could take place as early as February
22. Following Parliament's approval, both the decision to
send the troops and the bilateral agreement, represented by
an exchange of diplomatic notes between the MFA and Embassy
Sofia, need to be published in the State Gazette. The
President will then issue a decree for the publication of
the law for ratification of the bilateral agreement.
BEYRLE