US embassy cable - 05SOFIA1477

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 001477 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, EINV, ETTC, OVIP, LY, IZ, BG 
SUBJECT: NEW BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES IRAQ, 
BASING, OTHER BILATERAL ISSUES 
 
Classified By: CDA Jeffrey Levine, reasons 1.5(b) and (d). 
 
 1. (C) SUMMARY.  Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin told Charge' 
August 22 that Bulgaria would not follow the "Spanish model" 
in its withdrawal from Iraq. Instead, the Bulgarian 
departure, planned to take place before the end of the year, 
will be done in close consultation with the U.S. and other 
Coalition partners.  He emphasized that the new government 
wants to be seen as a reliable partner, and he said Bulgaria 
was willing to talk about other missions.  "Bulgaria will not 
abandon Iraq or the coalition," Kalfin said.  He was eager to 
move ahead with discussion of possible stationing of U.S. 
forces in Bulgaria.  Kalfin thanked the U.S. for its support 
on behalf of the Bulgarian medical workers imprisoned in 
Libya, and said he looked forward to discussing the issue 
with CODEL Hagel following the Senator's meetings in Tripoli. 
 He agreed with the need to maintain a predictable, 
transparent environment for U.S. investors, and to continue 
our close cooperation on arms and dual-use export controls. 
Kalfin confirmed that he would be in New York September 20-22 
for the UNGA FM event, and he welcomed a possible meeting 
with the Secretary.  He may also accompany President Purvanov 
to NY September 16-17.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) Charge' paid a courtesy call on FM Kalfin at the 
beginning of his first full week in office, urging the 
Bulgarian government to move slowly on Iraq despite a 
campaign promise to withdraw immediately.  Kalfin, who is 
also one of three deputy Prime Ministers, said Bulgaria's new 
Socialist-led coalition government would be "a predictable 
and loyal partner of the U.S," and its policy toward Iraq 
would be shaped within this context.  The new government will 
stick to its predecessor's decision to withdraw its combat 
troops from Iraq at the end of the year, but would do so in 
close consultation with Coalition partners.  "We are ready to 
talk about other missions," Kalfin said, mentioning in 
particular training of the Iraqi security forces, "and we 
need to think about Afghanistan as well."  The new government 
looks forward to discussing its future Iraq policy with the 
U.S. as soon as it completes its own internal deliberations. 
Though Bulgaria would bring its combat troops home at the end 
of the year, "we are not withdrawing from Iraq or the 
Coalition," Kalfin said. 
 
3. (C) Kalfin expressed a desire to quickly resume 
negotiations on stationing of U.S. forces in Bulgaria, but 
acknowledged that his government was not yet sufficiently 
prepared or staffed for a substantive discussion of the 
issue.  He promised to review the proposed Status of Forces 
Agreement (SOFA) and Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), and 
to re-engage as soon as possible.  "We will not delay," he 
said. Charge' committed to invite Ambassador Loftis and his 
team back to Bulgaria as soon as the government is ready. 
Kalfin noted that Bulgaria would also like to discuss the 
modernization of its armed forces with the U.S.  Charge' 
noted in response that the director of the Defense Security 
Cooperation Agency, LTG Koler, would visit Bulgaria in mid 
September. 
 
4. (C)  On Libya, Kalfin said Bulgaria would continue to work 
within the trilateral U.S./EU/Bulgaria format to gain the 
release of the five Bulgarian nurses unjustly imprisoned in 
Libya.  "We rely on your assistance and help," he said. 
Charge' urged Kalfin to review the food-for-thought paper 
provided to the previous government by deputy Legal Advisor 
Jonathan Schwartz.  Kalfin agreed the UK presidency had 
further energized the EU in support of the medics.  He was 
noncommittal, however, when asked about the prospect of 
direct, confidential negotiations between Bulgaria and Libya. 
 He said that UK officials planned soon to discuss the 
nurses' fate with the Libyan ambassador in London, who was 
Minister of Justice at the time of the nurses arrest.  "We 
need to take all measures possible" before the next court 
hearing on November 15, Kalfin added.  He said that he looks 
forward to meeting with Senator Hagel on August 29, following 
the latter's meetings in Tripoli. 
 
5. (C) Charge' said the U.S. wanted to increase bilateral 
trade and investment, but the new government must do its part 
to maintain a welcoming investment climate.  It would send a 
very bad signal to U.S. investors if the recent agreement 
with the U.S. film production company Nu Image to privatize 
Boyana Film Studios were not upheld.  Kalfin was supportive. 
He said that he had spoken to the chairman of the 
privatization agency about Boyana.  "The contract has been 
signed," he said; "I don't see any reconsideration of the 
deal."  He cautioned, however, that the courts would likely 
have the final say, and suggested that the Embassy meet with 
the new Minister of Culture, who was the most prominent 
skeptic within the government.  In the end, "I don't think 
it's going to be a problem," Kalfin said.  He stressed that 
Bulgaria's priority was to attract more U.S. investment, and 
for this reason it would also like to move ahead quickly with 
the negotiation of a treaty on the avoidance of double 
taxation (DTT). 
 
6. (C) Charge' emphasized the importance the U.S. places on 
arms and dual-use export controls.  In response, Kalfin said 
he looked forward to continued cooperation between the MFA 
and the Embassy on this issue. 
 
7. (C) COMMENT:  The new Foreign Minister appears committed 
to close relations with the U.S.  He clearly understands the 
sensitivity of Iraq in our relationship, and we will 
encourage him to play an advocacy role for continued 
Bulgarian military involvement.  With less than a week in the 
position, he seemed familiar with important issues, but the 
appointment of deputy ministers and re-establishing the 
inter-ministerial process will be necessary before the MFA is 
again fully functioning. 
 
8. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. 
 
LEVINE