Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SOFIA638
2006-05-08 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIAN LEADERS SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF BASING
how-toVZCZCXRO7257 PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSF #0638 1281531 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 081531Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1865 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SOFIA 000638
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL KPAO BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN LEADERS SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF BASING
AGREEMENT
REF: A. EMBASSY SOFIA E-GRAM #2 DATED 04/07/06
B. SOFIA 0394
UNCLAS SOFIA 000638
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL KPAO BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN LEADERS SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF BASING
AGREEMENT
REF: A. EMBASSY SOFIA E-GRAM #2 DATED 04/07/06
B. SOFIA 0394
1. (U) Since the signing of the Defense Cooperation
Agreement (DCA) in Sofia April 28, Bulgarian political
leaders have stepped up their support of the accord. In a
May 6 article in the Bulgarian daily "24 Hours," Sofia Mayor
Boyko Borisov, the most popular politician in Bulgaria, added
his voice to those promoting full support of the agreement.
Borisov highlighted the benefits of the DCA, including the
opportunity if offers Bulgarian soldiers to train with "the
best army in the world." He dismissed calls by the
ultra-nationalist Ataka party for a national referendum on
the DCA, arguing, "Bulgaria must continue to act as a
predictable NATO ally." Borisov, who enjoys a sixty percent
national approval rating, recently founded a new political
movement which is strongly pro-Europe and pro-U.S.
2. (U) In a May 6 interview with the Bulgarian Army
Newspaper, Defense Minister Bliznakov reiterated the GOB's
support for the DCA. Bliznakov was quoted as saying, "It
(the DCA) is in complete harmony with our national interest
and its essence is to deepen cooperation, which will lead to
benefits not only for the armed forces." Bliznakov went on
to highlight the benefits of joint training to the Bulgarian
military. He said, "This will also increase the capabilities
of the Bulgarian Army for action within NATO and for
counteracting the risks and threats that our country faces."
Bliznakov noted that Bulgaria has peacekeeping troops in
Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
3. (U) Following his April 28 meeting with the Secretary of
State, Prime Minister Stanishev was quoted by the Bulgarian
Telegraph Agency as saying that "the stationing of U.S.
forces and facilities on Bulgarian territory and the joint
use of military installations is balanced and reflects both
countries' views to the utmost." He added, "The signing of
the bilateral agreement enhances the strategic security of
both Bulgaria and the region."
4. (SBU) COMMENT. The chairmen of the Parliament's defense
and foreign affairs committees have both assured us of early
ratification of the DCA, an assurance repeated to Vice
President Cheney by President Parvanov at their meeting in
Vilnius May 4. Controversy over the freedom of action
article continues in the media, but is not an issue of
contention within the government: the GOB's senior leadership
understands and supports the terms of the DCA. We will
suggest to the GOB that early Parliamentary ratification of
the agreement will serve as another boost to growing public
support for the agreement. END COMMENT.
Beyrle
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL KPAO BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN LEADERS SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF BASING
AGREEMENT
REF: A. EMBASSY SOFIA E-GRAM #2 DATED 04/07/06
B. SOFIA 0394
1. (U) Since the signing of the Defense Cooperation
Agreement (DCA) in Sofia April 28, Bulgarian political
leaders have stepped up their support of the accord. In a
May 6 article in the Bulgarian daily "24 Hours," Sofia Mayor
Boyko Borisov, the most popular politician in Bulgaria, added
his voice to those promoting full support of the agreement.
Borisov highlighted the benefits of the DCA, including the
opportunity if offers Bulgarian soldiers to train with "the
best army in the world." He dismissed calls by the
ultra-nationalist Ataka party for a national referendum on
the DCA, arguing, "Bulgaria must continue to act as a
predictable NATO ally." Borisov, who enjoys a sixty percent
national approval rating, recently founded a new political
movement which is strongly pro-Europe and pro-U.S.
2. (U) In a May 6 interview with the Bulgarian Army
Newspaper, Defense Minister Bliznakov reiterated the GOB's
support for the DCA. Bliznakov was quoted as saying, "It
(the DCA) is in complete harmony with our national interest
and its essence is to deepen cooperation, which will lead to
benefits not only for the armed forces." Bliznakov went on
to highlight the benefits of joint training to the Bulgarian
military. He said, "This will also increase the capabilities
of the Bulgarian Army for action within NATO and for
counteracting the risks and threats that our country faces."
Bliznakov noted that Bulgaria has peacekeeping troops in
Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
3. (U) Following his April 28 meeting with the Secretary of
State, Prime Minister Stanishev was quoted by the Bulgarian
Telegraph Agency as saying that "the stationing of U.S.
forces and facilities on Bulgarian territory and the joint
use of military installations is balanced and reflects both
countries' views to the utmost." He added, "The signing of
the bilateral agreement enhances the strategic security of
both Bulgaria and the region."
4. (SBU) COMMENT. The chairmen of the Parliament's defense
and foreign affairs committees have both assured us of early
ratification of the DCA, an assurance repeated to Vice
President Cheney by President Parvanov at their meeting in
Vilnius May 4. Controversy over the freedom of action
article continues in the media, but is not an issue of
contention within the government: the GOB's senior leadership
understands and supports the terms of the DCA. We will
suggest to the GOB that early Parliamentary ratification of
the agreement will serve as another boost to growing public
support for the agreement. END COMMENT.
Beyrle