PRESIDENT PARVANOV'S VISIT TO ISRAEL: GOOD TERMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 000234 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL BU SUBJECT: PRESIDENT PARVANOV'S VISIT TO ISRAEL: GOOD TERMS ON BOTH SIDES REF: SOFIA 00110 Classified By: DCM Alex Karagiannis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Bulgarian President Parvanov's state visit to Israel March 25-27 -- which included a four hour visit to Gaza -- focused on strengthening bilateral ties while maintaining good relations with the Palestinians. The Bulgarians signed a number of bilateral agreements with Israel and announced the opening of a Bulgarian representative office in Ramallah. The Bulgarians told the Israelis their interest in Iran focused on energy, but would not push relations beyond EU common policy. END SUMMARY. PARVANOV'S OFFICIAL MEETINGS -------------- ¶2. (U) Parvanov's delegation included Foreign Minster Ivaylo Kalfin, his chief of staff Nikola Kolev, Bulgarian Labor and Social Policy Minster Emilia Maslarova, businessmen, and working level diplomats. The visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of Israel's statehood and the 65th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews from Nazi death camps during WWII. Parvanov and his Israeli counterpart Shimon Perez discussed the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP),Israeli investment in Bulgaria, and cooperation in the spheres of medicine and health technologies, high tech industries, agriculture, and renewable energy resources. Parvanov and FM Kalfin also conferred with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -- who sought to speed up the conclusion of negotiations on an agreement regarding civil production of military equipment and technologies. ¶3. (U) Minister Maslarova and Israeli Deputy Prime Minster and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni signed an Agreement on Social Security that covers approximately 10,000-12,000 Bulgarian Jews who have the right to work in Israel. Kalfin and Livni also signed an Agreement on Economic Cooperation that updated the existing bilateral legislative framework to take into account Bulgaria's EU membership. Parvanov and Kalfin met with Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the MEPP, Kosovo, and Israeli investment in Bulgaria. In addition, Parvanov and Kalfin participated in events commemorating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgarian Jews from Nazi death camps. ¶4. (C) Israeli DCM Uri Resnick told POLOFFS the visit enhanced the long-standing relations between the two countries. During the meetings, Israeli leaders stressed their concern over Bulgarian-Iranian relations (reftel). Resnick said that Parvanov's chief of staff Kolev told the Israelis that Bulgaria's interests in Iran focused on energy since, as Kolev put it, "Nabucco is a 'no-go' without Iranian gas," though Bulgaria would not push relations with Iran beyond EU common policy. Resnick said Israel had hoped Bulgaria would be a vocal Israel supporter in the EU, similar to other new member-states such as Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, but noted the Bulgarian impulse to "keep everybody happy." While in Israel, Parvanov said publicly that while Bulgaria has very good relations with Russia, it is also home to Bulgarian-U. S. joint military facilities. The Israeli DCM noted that the MFA's Kamen Velichkov may become the next Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel. PARVANOV IN GAZA -------------- ¶5. (C) Parvanov also visited Ramallah, where he met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas -- a meeting our MFA and Israeli contacts described as "heavy on protocol, light on substance." Bulgaria offered to organize an economic forum for Palestinian and Israeli businessmen to stimulate trilateral economic projects and boost trade. While in Ramallah Parvanov announced a program for cooperation in education, science, and culture between the Government of Bulgaria and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for 2008-2010. He also announced the opening of a Bulgarian diplomatic representative office in Ramallah. The office will be attached to the Bulgarian Embassy in Tel-Aviv, and will be headed by Nikolai Nikolov (the former Ambassador to Syria and Lebanon). ¶6. (C) According to our contacts, Parvanov also said publicly that supporting both the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the Bulgarians would "work for a more active position of the EU" toward accelerating the MEPP. Abbas was not sure how to react to Bulgaria's offer to host SOFIA 00000234 002 OF 002 talks on the MEPP, according to Resnick. Our Israeli contacts noted that the Bulgarians are well regarded by both sides, and would probably be an honest broker, but the idea is "unrealistic." ¶7. (C) COMMENT. The Bulgarians followed their usual practice of trying to be on good terms with all sides, with the Israelis and Palestinians as well as being measured about Israel in the EU. Despite talk about Iran and Nabucco, we do not expect Bulgaria to go beyond the common EU position on dealing with Iran. END COMMENT. Beyrle