Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SOFIA361
2009-07-07 06:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:
BULGARIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF IRANIAN ELECTION
how-toVZCZCXRO4263 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSF #0361 1880652 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 070652Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6153 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SOFIA 000361
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF IRANIAN ELECTION
UNCLAS SOFIA 000361
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF IRANIAN ELECTION
1. (SBU) Preoccupied with Bulgaria's own national election,
coverage of the situation in Iran has been limited to the
international news pages of most media outlets. Print and broadcast
media coverage of the election and the ensuing protests has been
factual and extensive, but unlike other countries in Europe the
Bulgarian government has not come forth with a strong position on
the validity of the election results.
2. (SBU) The Bulgarian government has not issued a formal statement
following the protests in Iran, but media coverage has been
sympathetic to the plight of the protestors. The center-right Blue
Coalition is the only party to criticize the lack of a GOB position
on the issue. Co-chair of the coalition, Ivan Kostov, suggested to
the press that the passive attitude of the Bulgarian government
stems from its close ties to Russia, which supports the "ayatollah's
regime." Leaders of the Blue Coalition also used the opportunity to
make unflattering comparisons of the political situations in Iran
and in Bulgaria and accused the governing Bulgarian Socialist Party
and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) of
using political repression and election fraud.
McEldowney
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KCRM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF IRANIAN ELECTION
1. (SBU) Preoccupied with Bulgaria's own national election,
coverage of the situation in Iran has been limited to the
international news pages of most media outlets. Print and broadcast
media coverage of the election and the ensuing protests has been
factual and extensive, but unlike other countries in Europe the
Bulgarian government has not come forth with a strong position on
the validity of the election results.
2. (SBU) The Bulgarian government has not issued a formal statement
following the protests in Iran, but media coverage has been
sympathetic to the plight of the protestors. The center-right Blue
Coalition is the only party to criticize the lack of a GOB position
on the issue. Co-chair of the coalition, Ivan Kostov, suggested to
the press that the passive attitude of the Bulgarian government
stems from its close ties to Russia, which supports the "ayatollah's
regime." Leaders of the Blue Coalition also used the opportunity to
make unflattering comparisons of the political situations in Iran
and in Bulgaria and accused the governing Bulgarian Socialist Party
and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) of
using political repression and election fraud.
McEldowney