US embassy cable - 05SOFIA1566

UNCLAS SOFIA 001566 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, EFIN, KPAO, BU, UNGA 
SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT ISSUES AT THE UNGA HIGH LEVEL EVENT: 
BULGARIA'S VIEW 
 
REF: STATE 162146, STATE 160880, STATE 160131 
 
1. (SBU) We delivered reftel talking points to Emil 
Yalnazov, head of the MFA's UN Directorate on 7 September. 
Yalnazov agreed that the specific proposals contained in the 
Declaration are "also complicated for us" and conveyed that 
the GOB was not likely to support any binding application of 
the committments proposed in the Declaration. 
 
2. (SBU) Yalnazov stated that, as an aspiring EU member, 
Bulgaria would support any EU consensus on the issue.  He 
further remarked that many EU member states hold widely 
divergent views on the subject. In the GOB's view, any EU 
consensus that could be negotiated between now and the High 
Level Event would likely be a vague expression of political 
will rather than a binding commitment.  In the absence of an 
EU consensus, Yalnazov indicated that the GOB would 
coordinate closely with new EU member states and would 
support development language along the lines of the EU 
common position announced in June. 
 
3. (SBU) Though Yalnazov expressed concerns over the 
practicality and utility of airline "solidarity 
contributions," the IFF, and specific GDP targets for 
official development assistance, he did praise the efforts 
of the Declaration's authors to stimulate dialogue and 
advance concrete proposals.  He specifically mentioned a 
"Tobin Tax" on international currency transactions as a 
possible alternate source of funding for development. 
 
4. (SBU) Yalzanov was more cautious on other initiatives 
being proposed in advance of the High Level Event, remarking 
that such a proliferation of initiatives risked distracting 
attention from the main document.  He expressed concern at a 
lack of progress on the main document and stated that the 
credibility of the UN could be undermined should delegates 
"waste time on a weak paper." 
 
5. (SBU) With respect to larger issues of UN reform, 
Yalzanov agreed with the U.S. position that Security Council 
enlargement should be linked to comprehensive reform.  He 
stated that permanent members should take the lead in 
advancing proposals in the next stage of negotiations on 
Security Council enlargement. 
 
BEYRLE