DEFENSE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN UPBEAT ON MILITARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000646

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: DEFENSE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN UPBEAT ON MILITARY
COOPERATION

Classified By: DCM Alex Karagiannis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: Angel Naydenov, Parliamentary Defense
Committee Chairman and leader of the Socialist Parliamentary
Group, was positive on U.S.-Bulgaria military cooperation and
supportive of plans to increase the public profile of our
steadily expanding relationship. Naydenov plans to attend
the October 15 Distinguished Visitor and Media Day at the
joint military facilities in Novo Selo and expressed support
for making a clearer case to the Bulgarian public on the
value to Bulgaria of the joint facilities and joint training.
He was also supportive of staging public events to
acknowledge the delivery of 52 U.S. HMMVWs granted to
Bulgaria under the Coalition Solidarity Fund and to welcome
home the final Bulgarian contingent in Iraq. Although
Naydenov would not commit to backing particular defense
procurements, such as U.S. fighters vs. French Corvette
ships, he recognized the dire situation of the Bulgarian Air
Force and supported efforts to modernize it. He would fight
to keep Bulgaria's defense budget above the NATO recommended
level of two per cent of GDP.


2. (C) The leadership of the ruling Socialist Party has
been decidedly pro-NATO and pro-U.S., doing all we have asked
in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, often putting themselves far
out ahead of their political base. In deference to their
supporters on the left, top Socialist Party officials have in
the past shied away from actively promoting the security
relationship. It is noteworthy that despite a general
election looming next year, the government is showcasing its
strong U.S. ties. End Summary.


3. (C) Participation by the President, Defense Minister and
parliamentary leadership at the Distinguished Visitor and
Media Day on Oct 15 will place U.S.-Bulgarian military
cooperation in the media spotlight. In a October 3 meeting
with MP Naydenov, the DCM stressed the importance of
showcasing the benefits of our strategic partnership to the
Bulgarian public. Naydenov agreed, saying he wanted to
generate favorable coverage that highlights U.S. help for
Bulgarian military modernization, particularly joint
training, FMF and IMET assistance. The DCM mentioned the
arrival in late October of 52 U.S. HMMWVs, (20 up-armored)
granted to the Bulgarians through the Coalition Solidarity
Fund. Naydenov agreed that a public event to recognize the
handover of the vehicles would be valuable, and also
supported a welcome home event at the end of December for the
final Bulgarian contingent returning from Iraq. He
emphasized how much Bulgaria appreciated U.S. financial
assistance (through NADR funds) for clean up of the
ammunition explosion at Chelopechene Storage Facility outside
of Sofia; any additional support, he said, would be greatly
appreciated.


4. (C) Aware of ongoing negotiations with the U.S. Air
Force on acquisition of F-16s for the Bulgarian Air Force,
Naydenov said he recognized the urgent need for modernization
of the Bulgarian Air Force, but he stopped short of
supporting any specific procurement, noting that the Defense
Committee would leave these determinations to the Defense
Ministry. He stressed the need to balance scarce resources
across the military services and expressed hope that any deal
reached on U.S. fighters could be structured financially to
allow payment over a long time period, reducing the immediate
budgetary impact. Naydenov noted that budget deliberations
were just beginning and that pressure to increase spending on
social programs in advance of the elections would be intense,
but he anticipated Bulgaria meeting the NATO recommended
level of two per cent of GDP for defense spending, an
important benchmark for Bulgaria's Armed Forces in the midst
their transformation and modernization program.


5. (C) Comment: Naydenov is an influential member of the
ruling Socialist Party's inner circle with a reputation as a
moderate. Generally pro-NATO and pro-U.S., his support for
U.S.-Bulgaria security cooperation is not a surprise, but his
enthusiasm for publicly showcasing the defense relationship
and taking the case to the public is new. Even with general
elections approaching next year, the ruling Socialist Party
(BSP) is not downplaying ties to the U.S. but is showcasing
the benefits of U.S. partnership, though its core voters are
quite skeptical of U.S.-Bulgaria military cooperation. This
calculated BSP decision, despite an election cycle is a
positive signal the current government will forge ahead with
our bilateral security agenda.
McEldowney