US embassy cable - 05SOFIA1031

C O N F I D E N T I A L  SOFIA 001031 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2015 
TAGS: KDEM, PREL, PGOV, PHUM, ET, BU 
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN REACTION TO ETHIOPIAN POST-ELECTION 
PERIOD 
 
REF: STATE 99185 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JAMES PARDEW, FOR REASONS 
1.4 (A) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) The GOB has not adopted any special decisions on the 
Ethiopian elections and will follow the EU's position on the 
issue, according to a nonpaper delivered to us on June 6 from 
the MFA Africa Directorate.  The MFA did not address directly 
the questions in reftel, but has pledged itself to support 
whatever initiatives Brussels undertakes. 
 
2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF OFFICIAL GOB VIEW ON ETHIOPIAN 
ELECTION: The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria has not 
adopted a special decision or definitive position with regard 
to the election, or the period after the conducting of 
parliamentary elections, in the Federal Democratic Republic 
of Ethiopia. 
 
The position of the Bulgarian Government is to encourage by 
every possible means the process of democratization in the 
countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and the strengthening of 
democratic institutions and norms of behavior, including the 
conducting of democratic, honest, and fair and transparent 
elections in these countries. This process undoubtedly needs 
time. 
 
Bulgaria also strongly supports every possible measure by the 
international community as well as the countries from the 
region for a peaceful solution in overcoming regional armed 
military conflicts, for the building of an effective early 
warning system to prevent conflicts, and for the peaceful 
development of the countries in the region without domestic 
upheavals stresses and cataclysms. 
 
We express our understanding of the concerns of the 
representatives in the EU Observer Mission to the elections. 
As a result of their activities, the international society 
has been informed already about the ongoing tensions within 
the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in connection 
with the mutual claims of irregularities in the election 
process, mainly from the opposition, the long delay in the 
ballot counting and the late announcements of results, etc. 
As a result, the prospect of an election audit is already 
being discussed, in line with the corresponding relevant 
mechanisms. 
 
As a country which has signed an EU accession treaty, the 
Republic of Bulgaria coordinates its positions on 
international matters with the EU, and in this way supports 
the documents or measures of the EU Presidency, when this is 
in line with Bulgaria's own policies. 
 
We express our satisfaction and hope about the results from 
the meetings between the high EU representatives (Xavier 
Solana and Commissioner Mishel) with the Ethiopian Prime 
Minister Meles and with opposition leaders on 26 May 2005 in 
Addis Ababa. We support the position of the EU 
representatives about the need for the Prime Minister to make 
an effort to preserve the authenticity of the electoral 
process and to settle the controversies through the relevant 
corresponding mechanism for the settling of disputes via 
elections; we support the opinion that the Prime Minister 
should engage in a dialogue with the opposition and avoid any 
moves which could arouse controversy: in this way he can 
preserve the respect of the international community towards 
the Ethiopian elections, as well as the respect and 
recognition of the international community towards Ethiopia 
and its Prime Minister. We endorse the position that the EU 
remains ready to support Ethiopia and every effort in the 
country aimed at dialogue. 
 
We perceive as appropriate the EU position that at this stage 
there is a need for calm and restraint from all sides, 
including the opposition, and that the it is necessary for 
the Government and the opposition to discuss how to solve the 
situation. 
 
We should mention that Prime Minister Meles in his concluding 
remarks has confirmed that he is ready for dialogue with the 
opposition and for the participation of the international 
community, including the EU, in a mechanism of audits (of the 
election results, into the complaints of the National Board 
of Elections, etc.). He has expressed confidence in the 
results and has guaranteed that the country would not pass 
the critical line. This position of Prime Minister Meles has 
been shared with the higher EU representatives and with the 
opposition leaders at their meeting, with the reassurance of 
a readiness from their side for political dialogue. 
 
The Republic of Bulgaria is following closely and will 
continue to follow developments in the situation in the 
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and is prepared to 
discuss each eventual future project for a declaration or 
measures on the part of the EU Presidency as well as from the 
international community. END TEXT. (Unofficial  translation).