BULGARIA ON KOSOVO, MACEDONIA, AND IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 000065

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KV SR IR BG
SUBJECT: BULGARIA ON KOSOVO, MACEDONIA, AND IRAN

Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In a January 25 meeting with the
Ambassador, Bulgarian FM Ivailo Kalfin discussed current
Bulgarian thinking on Kosovo and Macedonia and gave a
read-out from his January 22 meeting with Iranian FM Mottaki.
Kalfin said it is likely no statement on an SAA for Serbia or
an ESDP mission in Kosovo would come from the January 28
GAERC meeting. He said Bulgaria still plans to recognize
Kosovo independence in the second wave and the GOB is trying
to decide what must happen in Kosovo to trigger Bulgarian
recognition. He expressed concern about the possibility for
increased regional instability if Macedonia does not receive
a NATO invitation. Kalfin raised the issues of human rights,
Iran's nuclear program, and the additional protocol to the
nuclear nonproliferation treaty in his meeting with Iranian
FM Mottaki. Kalfin's read-out from the January 17-18 Putin
visit is being sent via septel. End Summary.

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NO KOSOVO STATEMENTS EXPECTED FROM GAERC
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2. (C) Previewing the January 28 GAERC discussions on
Kosovo, Kalfin said Bulgaria hopes that if the EU cannot
announce the signing of an SAA with Serbia (unlikely, he
said, due to continuing Dutch objections),no official
statement will come out of the GAERC on Serbia/Kosovo.
Issuing any statement would unduly influence the second round
of Serb elections. Asked if this was a consensus view,
Kalfin said most member states feel this way. Kalfin said he
also doubted the January 28 GAERC would be able to discuss
the modalities of the ESDP mission. The next GAERC, which,
he said, will likely take place February 14-15 (we have also
heard February 18-19),would offer another opportunity to
make a statement on Kosovo and ESDP. In response to
Ambassador's question whether Sofia has sensed a softening in
Belgrade's attitude toward first recognizors, Kalfin said to
the contrary, it seems Serbia is hardening its stance.
Ambassador urged the GOB to continue to play an influential
role in the region. He urged Kalfin to "take a risk and be
among the first recognizors." Kalfin said he still
envisioned Bulgaria would be in a large group of second stage
recognizors. Those that do not recognize immediately will
need to state clearly why they are waiting. He said Bulgaria
must make a statement soon after independence explaining what
Kosovo must accomplish to receive recognition. Ambassador
warned against the setting of new conditions. Kalfin agreed,
saying he envisioned Kosovo would have to achieve something
"tangible" -- for example, a step that is part of the
Ahtisaari plan such as the adoption of a constitution, before
Bulgaria joins the group of second recognizors.


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MACEDONIA SHOULD GET AN OFFER
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3. (C) Kalfin expressed concern about the possibility that
Macedonia would not get an offer to join NATO along with
Albania and Croatia at the April summit. He said Sofia is
pressing Skopje to solve the name issue with Greece, but
there is a feeling in Skopje that the USG will ultimately
press Greece to make concessions. Kalfin said leaving
Macedonia out would be a dangerous move that would contribute
to the instability of the region. Sofia is especially
concerned about "the day after independence" in Kosovo, when
Kosovars wake up to face the difficult challenge of nation
building. Ambassador said Washington shares Sofia's concerns
about stability in the region, and also wants Macedonia in
NATO, but stressed that this is something that must be
earned. Current instability in the Balkans will not lessen
pressure on Macedonia to offer a solution to the name issue.

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READ-OUT FROM MOTTAKI VISIT
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4. (C) Kalfin also provided a read-out from his January 22
meeting with Iranian FM Mottaki. Kalfin said he met with
Mottaki reluctantly and had turned down three previous
meeting requests. Mottaki told Kalfin that Iran was in
active dialog with the IEA and had already answered "70
percent of the IEA's concerns." He said Tehran would answer
the IEA's remaining questions by March 4 and he stated that
there would be no need for any further UNSC procedures until
then. Mottaki also said Iran was interested in participating
in two regional energy projects - the Trans-Adriatic
Pipeline, with Swiss partners, as well as Nabucco. In

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response, Kalfin said he delivered three points which he had
received from HighRep Solana's office. He urged Iran to sign
the additional protocol to the nonproliferation treaty.
Mottaki answered that his government had signed it and was
planning on ratification, but when it began to appear that
additional procedures would be started in the security
council, Iran put ratification on hold. Second, Kalfin asked
when Iran would stop enrichment activities. In response,
Kalfin said, Mottaki lectured him on Iran's history of lack
of aggression, and said Iran's nuclear program had only
peaceful intentions. Finally, Kalfin raised human rights,
stressing the need to eliminate the death penalty, a point
Mottaki did not answer. Ambassador asked why Kalfin did not
raise Iran's support for terrorist groups such as Hezbollah,
stressing "If you are going to meet with them, this point
should never be left off the agenda."
Beyrle