US embassy cable - 05SOFIA604

C O N F I D E N T I A L SOFIA 000604 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, PGOV, IZ, BU 
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONSIDERS DECISION 
TO LEAVE IRAQ AT THE END OF 2005 
 
REF: A) SOFIA 524 B) SOFIA 436 C) SOFIA 486 D) SOFIA 
 
     67 E) 04 SOFIA 2261 F) 04 SOFIA 2054 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James Pardew, reasons, 1.4(B) and (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Bulgarian Council of Ministers (CM) is 
considering a proposal on March 31 to withdraw its troops 
from Iraq on 31 December 2005 in accordance with the GOB's 
understanding of UNSCR 1546.  During a meeting with Foreign 
Minister Solomon Passy on March 30, Passy informed Deputy 
Secretary Zoellick that the CM would task the Parliament to 
 
SIPDIS 
determine another form of participation in the Iraq 
Coalition, such as the NATO Training Mission Iraq (NTM-I). 
The GOB says this decision will reaffirm Bulgaria's support 
for the Iraqi government and its commitments to the MNF-I. 
However with two thirds of the population opposed to 
Bulgaria's military presence in Iraq, this is an issue that 
the government is clearly hoping to put behind it before the 
upcoming June parliamentary elections. END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) According to information provided by Foreign Minister 
Passy on March 30, the CM's decision will allow the GOB to 
tell the Bulgarian population that the government does in 
fact have an exit strategy for Iraq, while simultaneously 
leaving the door open for further participation in NATO 
training initiatives.   The GOB crafted its decision to 
demonstrate that it is "reaffirming" both its participation 
in the Coalition and its support for the Iraq government. 
 
3. (SBU) Following are key points of the text submitted to 
the CM and presented to us on March 30.  The text is quoted 
verbatim from the Bulgarian translation into English. 
BEGIN TEXT:  Key Points of the Council of Ministers draft 
decision on Bulgaria's participation in support of the 
international community initiatives for maintaining the 
security and stability in Iraq. 
- Bulgaria remains a member of the international coalition 
and in coordination with the Iraqi leadership supports the 
independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. 
- Bulgaria will continue to fulfill its obligations until the 
end of the year in accordance with the UN Security Council 
Resolution 1546, which sets the mandate of the multinational 
forces until December 31, 2005. 
- The adoption of a national political decision on the 
parameters of our further participation in Iraq is related to 
 the changing situation in the country and in particular with 
the successful continuation of the political transition and 
the elections held on January 30 for Interim National 
Assembly, provincial councils and autonomous Kurdish 
Parliament. These elections are a historical milestone both 
for Iraq and the region as after the elections the Iraqi 
authorities are in a position to assume more responsibility 
for stabilization and democratization of the country. 
- As the situation has changed after the January 30 elections 
for Interim National Assembly, there is a potential for 
cutting the troops in Iraq from 500 to 400 while improving 
the structures and the staff of the Bulgarian contingent. 
- This decision does not come as a result of any external 
pressure. 
- The decision is not a pre-election move. On the contrary, 
it is a result of the common stand of the allies and the 
Government's strategy for the country's long-term policy. 
- There is a need for additional forms of cooperation to 
support the newly elected political institutions in Iraq in 
compliance with the UN Security Council resolutions. 
 
4. (C) COMMENT:  The GOB's draft strategy on Iraq likely will 
create a hot public debate before it is approved by the 
Parliament in coming weeks.  The opposition Socialists smell 
political blood on this issue for Prime Minister 
Saxe-Coburg's party.  They are likely to generate an intense 
debate to keep it going as long as possible before the June 
25 Parliamentary elections in Bulgaria.