BULGARIA SUPPORTS KOSOVO DONORS CONFERENCE AND IMF

UNCLAS SOFIA 000446 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNMIK EU BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA SUPPORTS KOSOVO DONORS CONFERENCE AND IMF AND WORLD BANK MEMBERSHIP REF: SECSTATE 69691 (SBU) We delivered REFTEL demarche to MFA's Europe Directorate I chief Krasimir Tulechki on July 1. Tulechki said Bulgaria will attend the EC sponsored Kosovo Donors Conference in Brussels on July 11, and will pledge a specific initial amount followed by additional donations each year afterward. The exact amount of the initial pledge and the follow-on amounts, according to Tulechki, will be determined by the Council of Ministers. The money will be used for programs aimed at improving social and economic stability, in three specific areas: 1) building administrative capacity in Kosovo; 2) building cultural programs; 3) creating an employment/training center in Prizren that will offer opportunities in 36 career fields. Tulechki added that Bulgaria supports Kosovo's membership in both the IMF and World Bank, and supports its membership in the Council of Europe as well. The Council of Europe, Tulechki thought, might be a good first step -- easier for the Kosovars to join than the IMF or World Bank. Karagiannis