BULGARIA: FORMER KOSOVAR PM RELEASED, WILL REMAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000323 SIPDIS PASS TO EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV BU SR KV SUBJECT: BULGARIA: FORMER KOSOVAR PM RELEASED, WILL REMAIN IN COUNTRY Classified By: ambassador nancy mceldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) A Bulgarian court decided on June 25 to release, Agim Ceku, former Kosovar Prime Minister, despite an Interpol Red Notice that had been lodged by Serbia. Though Ceku is free to leave Bulgaria, he has opted to remain in country for three additional days, as this is the timeframe normally reserved for challenges to court decisions. We have contacted the Prosecutor General's office and have been told that no contest to the decision is expected. ¶2. (C) Ceku is staying in a hotel in Sofia and has been in touch with his official host, Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Soloman Passy. ¶3. (C) Foreign Minister Kalfin told Ambassador that this incident could have easily been prevented, had either Ceku or Passy coordinated with the government. Instead, the press had a field day and the government has been embarrassed on the eve of a difficult election. McEldowney