Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SOFIA468
2006-03-30 13:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIAN TROOPS LEAVE FOR IRAQ
how-toVZCZCXRO7092 PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSF #0468 0891345 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 301345Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1684 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0094 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS SOFIA 000468
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM EU IZ BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN TROOPS LEAVE FOR IRAQ
REF: SOFIA 00267
UNCLAS SOFIA 000468
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM EU IZ BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN TROOPS LEAVE FOR IRAQ
REF: SOFIA 00267
1. (U) A contingent of 153 soldiers departed Bulgaria March
30 to begin its mission at Camp Ashraf, located 70 kilometers
north of Baghdad. The unit will replace a U.S. Army military
police company, providing security for defectors from the
Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK),an Iranian opposition group. Prime
Minister Stanishev and Defense Minister Bliznakov attended a
farewell ceremony March 29 at the unit's base in central
Bulgaria. In his speech to the troops, Stanishev referred to
Bulgaria's previous contingent which was withdrawn from
Ad-Diwaniyah in December 2005, saying the new mission marked
the second stage of Bulgaria's contribution to stabilizing
and democratizing Iraq.
2. (U) Six U.S. Army personnel from Iraq provided military
policing, detention, and non-lethal use of force training to
the contingent in Bulgaria March 6-16. Prior to assuming
full responsibility for the mission, the Bulgarian unit will
receive 21 days of additional training at Camp Ashraf. The
unit will be replaced by a second contingent after six
months, fulfilling Parliament's decision to provide forces at
the camp for one year (reftel).
3. (SBU) All of the contingent's members are volunteers, and
many have previously served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kosovo.
According to the U.S. military trainers who were here earlier
this month, the Bulgarian contingent is a well-equipped and
well-trained unit, able to successfully accomplish the Camp
Ashraf mission. The U.S. trainers were impressed by the high
level of English proficiency of the contingent's officers and
many of the soldiers. The pre-departure training was vital
in dispelling rumors concerning the mission, as well as
boosting the overall confidence of the unit.
4. (SBU) COMMENT. The controversy surrounding Parliament's
decision to send a new contingent back to Iraq (reftel) has
almost entirely subsided. High-level government officials
have taken the lead in publicly supporting the mission and
their troops. END COMMENT.
Beyrle
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCRM EU IZ BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN TROOPS LEAVE FOR IRAQ
REF: SOFIA 00267
1. (U) A contingent of 153 soldiers departed Bulgaria March
30 to begin its mission at Camp Ashraf, located 70 kilometers
north of Baghdad. The unit will replace a U.S. Army military
police company, providing security for defectors from the
Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK),an Iranian opposition group. Prime
Minister Stanishev and Defense Minister Bliznakov attended a
farewell ceremony March 29 at the unit's base in central
Bulgaria. In his speech to the troops, Stanishev referred to
Bulgaria's previous contingent which was withdrawn from
Ad-Diwaniyah in December 2005, saying the new mission marked
the second stage of Bulgaria's contribution to stabilizing
and democratizing Iraq.
2. (U) Six U.S. Army personnel from Iraq provided military
policing, detention, and non-lethal use of force training to
the contingent in Bulgaria March 6-16. Prior to assuming
full responsibility for the mission, the Bulgarian unit will
receive 21 days of additional training at Camp Ashraf. The
unit will be replaced by a second contingent after six
months, fulfilling Parliament's decision to provide forces at
the camp for one year (reftel).
3. (SBU) All of the contingent's members are volunteers, and
many have previously served in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kosovo.
According to the U.S. military trainers who were here earlier
this month, the Bulgarian contingent is a well-equipped and
well-trained unit, able to successfully accomplish the Camp
Ashraf mission. The U.S. trainers were impressed by the high
level of English proficiency of the contingent's officers and
many of the soldiers. The pre-departure training was vital
in dispelling rumors concerning the mission, as well as
boosting the overall confidence of the unit.
4. (SBU) COMMENT. The controversy surrounding Parliament's
decision to send a new contingent back to Iraq (reftel) has
almost entirely subsided. High-level government officials
have taken the lead in publicly supporting the mission and
their troops. END COMMENT.
Beyrle