Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SOFIA748
2008-11-26 12:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIA TO SIGN OSLO CONVENTION BUT WILL REMAIN
how-toVZCZCXRO0232 OO RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG DE RUEHSF #0748 3311204 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 261204Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5579 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEADWD/DA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 1009
UNCLAS SOFIA 000748
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA TO SIGN OSLO CONVENTION BUT WILL REMAIN
INTEROPERABLE
UNCLAS SOFIA 000748
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA TO SIGN OSLO CONVENTION BUT WILL REMAIN
INTEROPERABLE
1. (SBU) Bulgaria intends to sign the Convention on Cluster
Munitions in Oslo on December 3. According to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs expert Lachezara Stoeva, in charge of the
agreement, the MFA and MOD have consulted extensively and are
completely in agreement that signature of the convention will
not interfere with joint operations or Bulgaria's ability to
meet its NATO commitments. Bulgaria strongly supported the
inclusion of Article 21 to ensure that this was the case.
Should any concerns about the use of cluster munitions in
combined operations arise, Bulgaria will follow our
suggestion and consult bilaterally with the United States.
2. (SBU) Comment: A high-level team from the U.S. defense
firm Textron Systems met Bulgarian officials on November 25
and 26 to urge Bulgaria not to sign. Textron sells
air-to-ground weapon systems (sensor fused weapons) that will
be prohibited by the convention. The company representatives
argued that Bulgaria has not had adequate time to assess
whether it would want these systems for the F-16s it plans to
obtain next year. The Bulgarians heard out Textron, but
Stoeva said that Bulgaria still intends to sign the
convention on December 3. Solomon Passy, the Chairman of the
Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, however, is
concerned about the potential impact of the convention on
Bulgaria's F-16 program. He said he would ensure that this
issue was explored fully once the agreement was sent to
Parliament for ratification.
McEldowney
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA TO SIGN OSLO CONVENTION BUT WILL REMAIN
INTEROPERABLE
1. (SBU) Bulgaria intends to sign the Convention on Cluster
Munitions in Oslo on December 3. According to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs expert Lachezara Stoeva, in charge of the
agreement, the MFA and MOD have consulted extensively and are
completely in agreement that signature of the convention will
not interfere with joint operations or Bulgaria's ability to
meet its NATO commitments. Bulgaria strongly supported the
inclusion of Article 21 to ensure that this was the case.
Should any concerns about the use of cluster munitions in
combined operations arise, Bulgaria will follow our
suggestion and consult bilaterally with the United States.
2. (SBU) Comment: A high-level team from the U.S. defense
firm Textron Systems met Bulgarian officials on November 25
and 26 to urge Bulgaria not to sign. Textron sells
air-to-ground weapon systems (sensor fused weapons) that will
be prohibited by the convention. The company representatives
argued that Bulgaria has not had adequate time to assess
whether it would want these systems for the F-16s it plans to
obtain next year. The Bulgarians heard out Textron, but
Stoeva said that Bulgaria still intends to sign the
convention on December 3. Solomon Passy, the Chairman of the
Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, however, is
concerned about the potential impact of the convention on
Bulgaria's F-16 program. He said he would ensure that this
issue was explored fully once the agreement was sent to
Parliament for ratification.
McEldowney