US embassy cable - 05SOFIA74

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000074 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR D.WILSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: (##) 
TAGS: PGOV, BU 
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PRESIDENT PURVANOV REQUESTS MEETING WITH 
PRESIDENT BUSH IN FIRST HALF OF 2005 
 
 
Classified by Amb. Pardew for reasons 1.4 B & D 
 
1. (SBU) The Chief of Staff to President Purvanov, Andrei 
Karaslavov, called on the Ambassador to request a meeting between 
the two presidents.  Purvanov prefers the first half of this year. 
 
2. (SBU) Karaslavov noted that Bulgaria has been the most stalwart 
coalition ally in Iraq, but is the only coalition partner whose 
head of state has not had a formal meeting with President Bush. 
(Purvanov has had two photo-op/pull-asides with President Bush on 
the margins of international meetings.)  Purvanov would prefer an 
official visit to Washington, but, informally, Karaslavov 
suggested another format would work.  Karaslavov suggested several 
possible dates: March 14-16, late March/early April and June. 
 
3. (SBU) The Bulgarian Ambassador in Washington, Elena 
Poptodorova, has previously raised with the NSC the possibility of 
a meeting, and we expect that she will do so again upon her return 
to Washington later this week. 
 
4. (SBU) Purvanov has been important in staying the course on 
Iraq.  He is a very popular, non-controversial political figure in 
Bulgaria.  It is, however, important to note that during this 
election year, the leader of his party (Bulgarian Socialist Party 
Q BSP) has been slowly, but steadily turning up the rhetoric on 
withdrawing Bulgarian troops from Iraq. 
 
5. (SBU) More important than election year posturing, however, is 
the fact that Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg (National Movement 
of Simeon II Q NDSS), who is gaining ground in his re-election 
campaign, has also asked for a meeting with President Bush before 
the June 26 elections. 
 
6. (C) COMMENT: Post supports a Bush-Purvanov meeting for the 
reasons outlined, but finds the timing of the request problematic. 
Unless the White House can accommodate meetings with both Purvanov 
and Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg, post believes scheduling a Bush- 
Saxe-Coburg meeting should take precedence.  The Ambassador would 
like to discuss both during Washington consulatations scheduled 
next week. END COMMENT