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. -------------- NO KOSOVO STATEMENTS EXPECTED FROM GAERC -------------- ¶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. -------------- MACEDONIA SHOULD GET AN OFFER -------------- ¶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. -------------- READ-OUT FROM MOTTAKI VISIT -------------- ¶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 SOFIA 00000065 002 OF 002 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