BULGARIA SUPPORTIVE ON KOSOVO

UNCLAS SOFIA 000954 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE JOSH BLACK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KV YI UN PGOV EU PREL BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA SUPPORTIVE ON KOSOVO Ref: State 109526 ¶1. Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche August 7 to the MFA's Department Head for the Western Balkans Vania Andreeva and Western Balkan desk officer Angel Angelov. Andreeva agreed that a final solution following the Ahtisaari proposal, supported by a UNSCR, is the best solution. If an UNSCR is not possible, then Andreeva said EU consensus would be vital. She believes that the new troika negotiating format will encourage the EU to develop consensus. The worst case for Bulgaria is no UNSCR and no EU consensus, with Kosovo unilaterally declaring independence. Andreeva explained that lack of EU consensus would force Macedonia to choose between supporting Kosovo or Serbia, and wondered what the legal and security vacuum created by a unilateral declaration of independence would mean for the UNMIK and ESDP missions. ¶2. Andreeva offered Bulgaria's support to the Contact Group. Bulgaria has good relations with both Pristina and Belgrade and Bulgaria's President, PM and FM often travel to both cities. This year Bulgaria holds the chair to SEECP. Andreeva added that Sofia plans to host several ministerial meetings through SEECP, the next September 13-14. The Serbian FM will also visit Sofia August 31. Andreeva said the GOB would like to use these meetings in support of final status for Kosovo, and is open to requests or suggestions from Washington. KARAGIANNIS