U.S. RESPONSE TO BULGARIA REGARDING THE TRANSFER

S E C R E T STATE 089445

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL MASS ETTC BU
SUBJECT: U.S. RESPONSE TO BULGARIA REGARDING THE TRANSFER
OF MANPADS COMPONENTS TO EGYPT

REF: SOFIA 00517

Classified By: Classified by EUR/PRA Acting
Director Kathleen Morenski for reasons 1.4 (B)
AND (D).


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see action request
at paragraph 4.

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SUMMARY
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2. (S) The Government of Bulgaria (GOB) has agreed to consult
with the U.S. prior to selling man-portable AIR defense
systems (MANPADS) and their components (with the exception of
such transactions to NATO or EU member states). Bulgaria
recently requested U.S. views on a follow-up transfer of
MANPADS components to Egypt (Reftel). The GOB also informed
the U.S. that Bulgarian companies possessing stores of spare
MANPADS parts were interested in selling them to the U.S. or
destroying the items.

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USG Views on MANPADS-related Transfer to Egypt
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3. (S) Washington has reviewed the notification from Bulgaria
of the transfer of 520 sets of MANPADS parts to the
Government of Egypt. According to the end-user certificate
issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense, the items
purchased "are intended exclusively for use in the Armed
Forces of the Arab Republic of Egypt as spare parts of the
present equipment on the territory of the Arab Republic of
Egypt and will not be re-exported, sold, rented or
transferred to any other party without the written consent of
the exporter and the State Service of Export Control of
Bulgaria." In light of the terms of the end-use certificate
presented by Egypt, and since there is little evidence to
indicate Egypt is planning to sell MANPADS or countries are
approaching Egypt to purchase MANPADS, Washington does not
object to Bulgaria providing the components listed above to
Egypt.

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OBJECTIVES
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4. (S/REL BULGARIA) Post is requested to approach appropriate
GOB officials and provide the U.S. Government response to the
transfer of MANPADS components to Egypt. Response should
indicate that we do not object to the proposed transaction.
Post should also indicate our desire to negotiate the
acquisition and/or destruction of remaining MANPADS
components in Bulgaria. Post is requested to pursue the
following objectives:

-- Inform GOB officials that the USG does not object the
transfer of the 520 sets of MANPADS parts to the Government
of Egypt.

-- Indicate this transaction appears consistent with the
needs of the Ministry of Defense of Egypt.

-- Note that the end-user certificate issued by the
Government of Egypt was an important factor in assuring the
legitimacy of this transfer.

-- Indicate that the United States is prepared to discuss the
acquisition and/or destruction of the remaining stores of
spare MANPADS parts in the possession of Bulgarian companies.



5. (U) Post's assistance is greatly appreciated. Department
points of contact are Meg Mitchell, (202) 647-2433,
mitchellmt2@state.sgov.gov and Lou Ganem, (202) 647-2329,
ganemlc@state.sgov.gov.
RICE