BULGARIA STRONGLY CONDEMNS PKK USE OF VIOLENCE.

UNCLAS SOFIA 001285 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/SE FOR DANIELLE GARBE S/CT FOR ZACK ROTHSCHILD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV KTFN TU IZ EUN BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA STRONGLY CONDEMNS PKK USE OF VIOLENCE. REF: SECSTATE 148531 (SBU) On October 31 Polecoff delivered reftel demarche to Bulgarian MFA's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), European Correspondent Unit officer Valetin Guydarov. According to Mr. Guydarov, the GOB as an EU member state supported the EU's statement and position which condemned the PKK's attacks against Turkish territory. Mr. Guydarov stated that the GOB strongly condemns the PKK's use of violence and recognizes the Government of Turkey's right to protect its citizens and itself from terrorists. He noted that this right should respect international law and not be disproportionate to the attack itself. According to Mr. Guydarov, the GOB believes the Governments of Turkey and Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government should cooperate to protect people in this region from similar attacks while ensuring respect for the Turkish border. Mr. Guydarov opined that the GOB hopes that the topic of PKK violence/terrorism will be on the agenda for the next EU Foreign Ministers General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting. (SBU) On October 30 Polecoff delivered reftel demarche to Plamen Petkov, Head of the USA Branch of the MFA America Directorate. Petkov said that he agreed with the demarche points and would pass the demarche along to the appropriate department. Beyrle