BULGARIAN LEADERS SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF BASING

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