BULGARIA: DVC WITH MFA, SHARED VIEWS ON KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 000663

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PASS TO EUR DAS STU JONES
PASS TO EUR/CE TOM YEAGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BU KV
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: DVC WITH MFA, SHARED VIEWS ON KOSOVO

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


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador McEldowney hosted a Kosovo
DVC between EUR DAS Stuart Jones and Bulgarian Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lyubomir Kyuchukov, Western
Balkans Office Director Krassimir Tulechki on October 10.
The Bulgarians stressed the importance of EULEX deployment as
soon as possible (not linked to the six-point talks) and
Kosovo's territorial integrity. Serbia's IJC resolution
would not change the fact of Kosovo's independence and may
help ease domestic pressure on Belgrade. Kyuchukov discussed
Bulgaria's assistance efforts and said economic development
is the key to stability in Kosovo and the region. The
situation in Bosnia, with Belgrade's negative influence, is
more worrisome than Kosovo; OHR and international community
need to stay. The Bulgarians found the DVC very useful and
look forward to DAS Jones' visit to Bulgaria. END SUMMARY.

SHARED VIEWS ON EULEX, ICJ RESOLUTION
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2. (SBU) Discussion began with Serbia's ICJ Resolution.
Kyuchukov agreed with DAS Jones's assessment that Kosovo's
independence was irreversible, and that the ICJ resolution
may help ease domestic pressure on Belgrade and shift the
focus outward. This shift could mitigate potential
paramilitary activity in Kosovo.


3. (SBU) Kyuchukov said the two key issues were EULEX
deployment to northern Kosovo and maintaining territorial
integrity. "Even speaking about partition would be bad,"
with potential domino effects in Bosnia, Presevo, Voivodina
and Macedonia. UNMIK needs to remain in Kosovo but EULEX
should take over. Kyuchukov seconded DAS Jones that EULEX
should not be postponed and not linked to the six-point
talks. EULEX should come first.


4. (SBU) Ambassador McEldowney noted that Bulgaria carries
special weight with Serbia and inquired about future visits.
Kyuchukov said there was a "constant dialogue" and good
relations between the presidents and ministers. Bulgaria has
the confidence of both Pristina and Belgrade. He pointed to
Serbia's participation, with Kosovo (under UNMIK
representation),in the RCC under Bulgaria's chairmanship
from May 2007 to May 2008. The Serbs acknowledge that the
international presence is a stabilizing factor in Kosovo.
Kyuchukov stressed Bulgaria will remain active in Kosovo; it
has pledged a half million euro at the Donor's Conference for
concrete projects training Kosovo's MFA and police.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS KEY TO REGIONAL STABILITY
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) DAS Jones and Kyuchukov agreed economic
development is key to Kosovo's viability as a state.
Kyuchukov pointed to Bulgaria's experience and interest in
developing Kosovo's energy sector. During a February 2008
visit by Bulgaria's Deputy Economy and Development Minister
PM Thaci framed Kosovo's economic priorities as energy,
agriculture, and tourism. Kyuchukov stressed that economic
development is key to social stability in Kosovo and the
region because of high unemployment, particularly among
Kosovo's youth. An economically unstable Kosovo could lead
to social instability and then destabilize the country and
its neighbors. Bulgaria is networking with Kosovo's
ministries and the two chambers of commerce have established
links. In a public-private partnership, Bulgaria established
a business incubator in Prizren, financed by government aid
and supported by business on the ground.

MORE CONCERNED ABOUT BOSNIA
--------------


6. (C) Kyuchukov is more worried about Bosnia than Kosovo.
Progress is stalled with Belgrade's negative influence,
though Kyuchukov agreed that Siladzic shares blame with Dodic
for the current tensions. He was pessimistic that Belgrade
would press Dodic, even if he complicated Serbia's entry into
the EU. Also, Belgrade's stated policy of political and
financial support to ethnic Serbs throughout the region
(Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia) is not helpful. According to
Kyuchukov, Bonsia's internal situation is being further
destabilized by not only Belgrade, but Moscow. OHR and the

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international community need to stay in Bosnia. Kyuchukov
agreed with DAS Jones that Bosnia must be dealt with as a
whole, not Sarajevo and Banja Luka separately. The EU is the
only way to unite everyone in the Balkans, not through the
membership process, but by pressing reforms and keeping the
membership door open. Kyuchukov acknowledged DAS Jones'
description of potential problems if Croats in Bosnia
obtaining Croatian passports when Croatia accedes to EU. He
said that Bulgaria will insist on passports for both Croatia
and Bosnia.

"NORTH MACEDONIA?"
--------------


7. (C) After the DVC, Kyuchukov raised Macedonia with
Embassy representatives, saying if Skopje accepted the name
North Macedonia, "We won't make a public issue out of it but
we won't be happy. As for Macedonia Pirinsky, "It could make
problems for us."


8. (C) COMMENT: Kyuchukov and Tulechki found the DVC, our
first with the MFA, very useful and noted U.S. and Bulgarian
positions are very close. Kyuchukov hoped there would be
more DVCs in the future, and that he looked forward to DAS
Jones' upcoming visit to discuss issues in greater detail.

McEldowney