Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SOFIA265
2009-06-03 11:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIAN ENERGY AMBASSADOR ON NABUCCO ISA
how-toVZCZCXRO9200 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSF #0265 1541105 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031105Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6038 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000265
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2019
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON PGOV PREL BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN ENERGY AMBASSADOR ON NABUCCO ISA
REF: STATE 54469
Classified By: Political Counselor James Bigus for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000265
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2019
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON PGOV PREL BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN ENERGY AMBASSADOR ON NABUCCO ISA
REF: STATE 54469
Classified By: Political Counselor James Bigus for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) In response to reftel points on the Nabucco
Inter-State Agreement (ISA),Bulgarian Energy Envoy Peter
Poptchev told us June 1 that as a result of negotiations
between project partners May 28-29, the ISA will not
reference any specific state in its definition of "initial
entry points." He stated that the definition currently reads
as follows: "Initial Entry Points shall mean the starting
points of the Nabucco Project at any (three) points on the
eastern and southern land borders of the Republic of Turkey
as selected by Nabucco International Company, and, subject to
agreement by the Nabucco Committee in consultation with
Nabucco International Company, any other point at the eastern
or southern Turkish border." Poptchev noted that the term
"three" will remain in brackets in the final text. He also
noted that this wording is subject to final approval by the
Turkish delegation and subsequent renegotiation if any
Turkish suggestions are not acceptable to the European
Commission.
2. (C) Poptchev said Nabucco negotiators had hoped to
conclude the ISA on the afternoon of May 29, and were on
track to do so until one unnamed side insisted on clarifying
certain tax issues that were originally supposed to be
elaborated in a subsequent document. The parties spent
several hours trying to solve the tax issue on the afternoon
of the 29th, but since there were very few tax specialists
present, the meeting broke without agreement. The parties
then decided to work out the text via email. If this cannot
be done in the coming week, the parties will meet again on
June 15 in Vienna. Poptchev said Bulgaria is happy with the
text and is ready to sign it.
McEldowney
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2019
TAGS: ENRG EPET ECON PGOV PREL BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN ENERGY AMBASSADOR ON NABUCCO ISA
REF: STATE 54469
Classified By: Political Counselor James Bigus for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) In response to reftel points on the Nabucco
Inter-State Agreement (ISA),Bulgarian Energy Envoy Peter
Poptchev told us June 1 that as a result of negotiations
between project partners May 28-29, the ISA will not
reference any specific state in its definition of "initial
entry points." He stated that the definition currently reads
as follows: "Initial Entry Points shall mean the starting
points of the Nabucco Project at any (three) points on the
eastern and southern land borders of the Republic of Turkey
as selected by Nabucco International Company, and, subject to
agreement by the Nabucco Committee in consultation with
Nabucco International Company, any other point at the eastern
or southern Turkish border." Poptchev noted that the term
"three" will remain in brackets in the final text. He also
noted that this wording is subject to final approval by the
Turkish delegation and subsequent renegotiation if any
Turkish suggestions are not acceptable to the European
Commission.
2. (C) Poptchev said Nabucco negotiators had hoped to
conclude the ISA on the afternoon of May 29, and were on
track to do so until one unnamed side insisted on clarifying
certain tax issues that were originally supposed to be
elaborated in a subsequent document. The parties spent
several hours trying to solve the tax issue on the afternoon
of the 29th, but since there were very few tax specialists
present, the meeting broke without agreement. The parties
then decided to work out the text via email. If this cannot
be done in the coming week, the parties will meet again on
June 15 in Vienna. Poptchev said Bulgaria is happy with the
text and is ready to sign it.
McEldowney