Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ACCRA93
2008-01-16 16:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

EVICTION AGAINST BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE

Tags:  PREL OFDP PGOV GH 
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VZCZCXRO4022
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #0093 0161643
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161643Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5989
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA IMMEDIATE 0033
UNCLAS ACCRA 000093 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W; AF/EX; L/DL; DS/OFM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OFDP PGOV GH
SUBJECT: EVICTION AGAINST BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE

UNCLAS ACCRA 000093

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W; AF/EX; L/DL; DS/OFM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL OFDP PGOV GH
SUBJECT: EVICTION AGAINST BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE


1. On January 9, a disgruntled landlord attempted to evict
the Bulgarian Ambassador from his residence which doubles as
the Bulgarian Embassy. According to several sources, the
landlord and his minions arrived early in the morning on
January 9, forced their way inside the compound and began
carrying out the contents of the Embassy/residence and
placing them on the street. The landlord also towed out the
Bulgarian Ambassador's Mercedes and had the electricity cut
off to the Embassy/residence. Heated arguments ensued
between the staff of the Embassy/residence and the landlord,
and the Bulgarian Ambassador, Nedelcho Peneff, called the
Ghana Police, President Kufuor's office and other diplomats
(including the U.S. Ambassador) to the scene.


2. After the arrival of several officials, including the EU
Ambassador and the Attorney General, the eviction process was
halted. However, the landlord claimed he had not finished
and vowed to return to "finish his work." Neighbors say the
Embassy/residence is now guarded 24 hours a day by several
guards.


3. The landlord contends that the Government of Bulgaria
owes him nearly USD 800,000 in rent payments dating from June

1993. He obtained an eviction notice from an Accra High
Court judge dated July 9, 2007 which allows him to seize
vehicles, furniture, and other equipment. The landlord and
the Bulgarians have apparently had land disputes concerning
this property since 1978. A dispute in 1990, for example,
was mediated by the MFA, and according to the landlord, the
Bulgarians were to pay rent from 1993 onward, which they did
not. For their part, the Bulgarians claim that they settled
the rent issue in 1983 when they paid a "huge" sum of money
to the landlord to cover rent for the next 50 years.


4. COMMENT: It is unclear at this point which side of the
story is accurate, and whether this issue will continue.
However, the fact that individuals would violate the space of
a diplomatic mission accredited to Ghana and throw the
contents on the street is disturbing. The tiny Bulgarian
mission, which consists only of the Ambassador, is back at
work now and attempting to move forward after this incident.
END COMMENT.
BRIDGEWATER