BULGARIA READY TO NEGOTIATE EXTRADITION AND MLAT

UNCLAS SOFIA 000598 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR L/LEI PETER GUTHERIE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL CJAN BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA READY TO NEGOTIATE EXTRADITION AND MLAT IN LATE JUNE REF: SECSTATE 59503 ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4. ¶2. (SBU) On May 3, we delivered reftel points to Georgi Rupchev, Head of International Cooperation Directorate at the Ministry of Justice (MOJ),and, separately, to Ivan Dantchev, MFA's Acting Head of America's Directorate. MOJ's Rupchev told us subsequently that the GOB is ready to host the USG negotiation team in late June (June 25 - 29). The MOJ will start the intra-agency clearance process of the proposed extradition and MLAT texts this week. Rupchev expects to present the texts to the Council of Minister on May 31 to be granted negotiation authority. ¶3. (SBU) The only point of contention is Bulgaria's wish to negotiate a full MLAT rather than the limited version we proposed. The MOJ will submit for Council of Ministers the full MLAT text, which covers both traditional and modern forms of legal aid. Acknowledging our strong preference to stick to the original USG proposal, Rupchev assured us that the GOB is open to negotiation, and that Council of Minister's approval only means the GOB will have the authorization to negotiate more than what is currently proposed. ¶4. (SBU) Please confirm whether our negotiating team would be able to come to Bulgaria on the proposed June 25-29 dates. Karagiannis