DISCOURAGING RUSSIA FROM UPGRADING RELATIONS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000272 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2018 TAGS: PREL SUBJECT: DISCOURAGING RUSSIA FROM UPGRADING RELATIONS WITH ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA REF: SECSTATE 40673 Classified By: POL/ECON Chief Jim Bigus for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) (C) We delivered reftel demarch to Head of European States Department, Europe III Directorate Ivaylo Ivanov on April 25. Ivanov took copious notes and said he would forward the demarche in detail to the highest levels of the Ministry. Ivanov said Bulgarian-Georgian relations were very good, that Bulgaria strongly supports Georgia's sovereignty, and noted that Bulgaria would soon send an ambassador to Georgia. He added that Bulgaria was active in elaborating the common foreign policies of the EU and would join the EU consensus on the Russian actions. Whether Bulgaria would make raise the issue bilaterally with the Russians would need to be decided at the most senior level. Beyrle