BULGARIA: DEMARCHE CLARIFYING TRANSITION TO AFGHAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000034 SIPDIS EUR/RPM FOR AARON COPE, S/SRAP, AND SCA/A. E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2020 TAGS: AF MARR MOPS NATO PREL BU SUBJECT: BULGARIA: DEMARCHE CLARIFYING TRANSITION TO AFGHAN PROVINICAL RESPONSIBILITY DELIVERED REF: SECSTATE 04108 Classified By: CDA Susan Sutton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Charge delivered reftel points to Deputy Defense Minister Anyu Angelov on January 15. Angelov understood and agreed with the points on the transition to Afghan led Provincial Responsibility. The Deputy Minister said that Defense Minister Mladenov will attend the January 28 London conference and took note of our view on the importance of welcoming progress on the provincial transition plan and for Afghan-led program of reintegration. He agreed that it will be useful for nations to clarify their previously pledged commitments during the Defense Ministerial in Istanbul, but did not make any comment on Bulgaria's plans in this regard. SUTTON