BULGARIA: GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000630 SIPDIS FOR IO/HR, PAUL KRUCHOWSKI; IO/UNP, ANDREW MORRISON; NEA/IPA, JEFFREY GIAUQUE; AND USUN/NY, ELLEN GERMAIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER IS KPAL BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA: GOLDSTONE REPORT DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: SECSTATE 112828 Classified By: Political Officer Joshua Huck for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to Rakovski Lashev, Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 4. Reaffirming our strong bilateral and NATO relations, Lashev said he would immediately pass along our request to his superiors and to the Bulgarian delegation in New York. He said Bulgaria will take full account of our views, but it needs to analyze the draft resolution and consult with EU partners before making a final decision. Lashev added that Bulgaria maintains good relations with Israel, and shares our view that Israel is committed to conducting its own investigations. Personally, he said he believes that a General Assembly resolution will be counterproductive given the Quartet's efforts and the need for unified action. ORDWAY