BULGARIA: INTENSIFIED COUNTER-WMD COOPERATION

UNCLAS SOFIA 000046

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIA: INTENSIFIED COUNTER-WMD COOPERATION


1. (SBU) Summary. Astride traditional smuggling routes
linking the Western Balkans, Black Sea, Turkey and Russia,
Bulgaria occupies a strategic position on Europe's frontier.
The ratification of three major agreements in 2008 (the WMD
Agreement, the Second Line of Defense Agreement and the
Nuclear Fuel Return Agreement) will result in significant
progress in counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation
cooperation in 2009. We will coordinate DOE and DOD visits
to ensure a smooth rollout and achieve maximum impact. End
Summary.

SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE


2. (SBU) With the December 19, 2008 ratification of the
Second Line of Defense (SLD) Agreement, the Department of
Energy is now free to begin site design, training and
construction work at the top priority sites identified during
consultations last year, specifically: Burgas port, Kapitan
Andreevo, Lesovo, Malko Tarnovo and Svilengrad rail station.
Construction work could begin as soon as April, with the goal
of having all sites up and running by the fall of 2009. The
total value of all work, equipment and training is
approximately six million USD for 2009, with the possibility
of additional resources for supplemental training and a
second round of site visits to next tier entry points.

WMD AGREEMENT


3. (SBU) Through the WMD agreement, the Defense Threat
Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the DOD International
Counterproliferation Program are authorized to provide
training and equipment for law enforcement entities in
Bulgaria to enhance customs and border guards, ability to
detect, interdict, identify, investigate and respond to the
illicit trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and
related materials. We understand DTRA plans to conduct three
courses in Bulgaria in 2009 at a cost of approximately one
million USD: "Responding to WMD Incidents at Borders" in
February, "Crime Scene Operations" in June, and "Radiological
Detection and Response" in October/November.

RESEARCH REACTOR CONVERSION AND REFURBISHMENT


4. (SBU) In 2008 U.S. and Bulgarian experts removed all
spent Highly Enriched Uranium from a training reactor in
Sofia and transported it to Russia, its original source. As
part of the transfer agreement, the United States agreed to
help facilitate the conversion of the research reactor into
an advanced Low Enriched Uranium reactor, with training,
medical and research applications. Post welcomes the visit
of National Nuclear Security Administration, Assistant Deputy
Administrator Andrew Bieniawski in January to move this
project forward.


5. (SBU) Comment: In addition to the obvious benefits to
border security, law enforcement capacity and crisis
response, successful implementation of these agreements may
have significant positive political impact as well.
Domestically, 2008 was a difficult year for Bulgaria, full of
political scandal, censure from the international community
over corruption, and the loss of EU funds due to
misappropriation. The Ministry of the Interior,
particularly, has come under fire for its past performance
and is looking for ways to show improvement. Successful
cooperation on these projects can boost sagging morale inside
the ministry and maintain continuity of engagement between
the United States and Bulgaria as the Bulgarian government
transitions through an election season this summer. Bulgaria
is the EU's southeastern-most border, both a gateway and
checkpoint for contraband movements. These agreements and
the relationships we build will upgrade Bulgaria's border
security, counter-WMD and counter-proliferation capabilities.
McEldowney