Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SOFIA153
2008-03-17 07:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

INITIAL BULGARIAN REQUEST FOR SMALL ARMS / LIGHT

Tags:  PREL MARR BU 
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VZCZCXRO6506
OO RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHSF #0153 0770702
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 170702Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4843
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SOFIA 000153 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR MARK ADAMS PM/WRA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: INITIAL BULGARIAN REQUEST FOR SMALL ARMS / LIGHT
WEAPONS DESTRUCTION ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS SOFIA 000153

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR MARK ADAMS PM/WRA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: INITIAL BULGARIAN REQUEST FOR SMALL ARMS / LIGHT
WEAPONS DESTRUCTION ASSISTANCE


1. (U) Summary. The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense (MOD) and
Terem, a wholly MOD-owned defense company, submitted a formal
request for Small Arms / Light Weapons (SA/LW) destruction
assistance on March 13, 2008. The MOD cost estimate to
destroy all of the items listed below far exceeds the SA/LW
destruction budget allocated to Bulgaria, so it is likely
that this list will have to be pared down or spread out over
several years. On the positive side, it is very encouraging
to see the Bulgarians designate over 40,000 rifles and other
small arms as candidates for destruction. (In the past, they
have been interested primarily in destruction of ammunition,
a lower U.S. priority.) Post requests the Department advise
on availability of funds, destruction priorities and USG cost
estimates for the destruction of the items listed below. Post
action officer for this issue is Joshua Huck, 359-2-937-5399.
End Summary.


2. (U) Begin List of Weapons:

SALW Unit (USD)
Description Qty. Price Amount
7.62mm rifle, type 1944 374 7.6 2,842.40
7.62mm rifle, type 1891/44 14 7.6 106.40
7.62mm rifle, type 59 for ASU 17 7.6 129.20
7.62mm machine gun AK-47 3 7.9 23.70
7.62mm machine gun AKS-47 104 7.9 821.60
5.45mm machine gun AK-74 31943 7.9 252,349.70
5.45mm machine gun AKN-74 10742 7.9 84861.80
5.45mm gun RPK-74 4 15.5 62.00
7.62mm sub-machine gun "Spagin" 2303 7.9 18,193.70
7.62mm gun "M.Sokolov" Type 1910 16 18.5 296.00
7.62mm gun DTM 187 8.8 1,645.60
7.62mm gun PKT 642 8.8 5,649.60
14.5mm gun "Vladimirov" KPVT 283 58 16,414.00
57mm anti-aircraft Gun C-60 35 1,560 54,600.00
TOTAL SALW USD 441,475.00

AMMUNITION Unit (USD)
Description Qty. Price Amount
Hand grenades F-1 set 1,160,603 1.80 2,089,085.00
Hand grenades RG-42 22,500 1.80 40,500.00
100mm fragmentation-
Distance rounds for KC-19 11,700 19.90 23,2830.00

TOTAL AMMUNITION USD 2,362,415.00

GRAND TOTAL 2,803,890.00

End List of Weapons.


3. (U) Comment: The destruction prices listed by the GOB
are lower than those it proposed last year, but still far
above what was charged in previous years. (For instance, the
GOB destroyed 10,000 AK-47s in 2002 at a price of USD 2.75
each, whereas the asking price this year is USD 7.90 each.)
We have not begun serious discussions with the GOB on this
issue, but believe that, since this is an initial offer, the
prices can be negotiated downward. We will push hard to
drive this price down to a figure in line with USG estimates.
We also plan to pursue the possibility of adding MANPADS to
this list. Bulgaria has already destroyed its commercial
stockpiles, but still maintains MANPADS in its military
arsenal. End Comment.
Beyrle