BULGARIA SUPPORTS EU AND US ENGAGEMENT WITH BOSNIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000722 SIPDIS PASS TO DAS STUART JONES EUR/SCE MIKE FOOKS AND ANNA STINCHCOMB EUR/CE TOM YEAGER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018 TAGS: BK EU PGOV BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA SUPPORTS EU AND US ENGAGEMENT WITH BOSNIA REF: STATE 113894 Classified By: Political Counselor Jim Bigus for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel to MFA's Western Balkans Office Director Krassimir Tulechki who agreed that Washington and Brussels should support the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and work together to keep Bosnia moving towards European integration. According to Tulechki, Republika Serpska Prime Minister Dodic is satisfied with the status quo in Bosnia and has recently stated that Republika Serpska does not need foreigners to tell them what to do. Dodic keeps seeking Belgrade's support. High Representative Lajcak has little support in Bosnia and zero support in the Republika Serpska according to Tulechki's Bosnian contacts. He added that Bulgaria has started procedures to ratify Bosnia's SAA, noting the SAA will give Bosnia a framework towards European integration and could help "disturb" Belgrade's intentions. ¶2. (C) Tulechki advised that NATO membership for Serbia and Montenegro should not be linked together. He said that Bulgaria supports NATO membership for both Montenegro and Serbia, but they should be offered NATO membership separately. Tulechki said that the MFA's Western Balkans directorate looks forward to discussing NATO membership, Kosovo, Bosnia and other regional issues with DAS Jones next week. McEldowney