US embassy cable - 05SOFIA1945

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 001945 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, BU 
SUBJECT: BULGARIA SEEKS BALANCED APPROACH TO KOSOVO 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary: Bulgaria supports a balanced approached to 
negotiations over Kosovo's future status and believes that 
all options should be considered. Sofia sees the prospect of 
EU integration for Kosovo, and other West Balkan countries, 
as the key factor in bringing stability and development to 
the region.  The GOB is ready to take an active if as yet 
undefined part in the Kosovo negotiations but believes its 
public is largely indifferent to the issue. End Summary. 
 
EU Integration Critical for West Balkan Stability 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
2. (C) Bulgaria's position on Kosovo's final status remains 
open. It has maintained a balance between Belgrade's position 
of greater autonomy but not full independence and the Kosovar 
Albanians' push for unconditional independence. Foreign 
Minister Kalfin has said that all options should be on the 
table. For Sofia the important issue is that the concerned 
parties reach a mutually acceptable agreement on Kosovo's 
status and that negotiations be without coercion or force. 
 
3. (C) Iva Kruleva, the Foreign Ministry's chief expert on 
Kosovo, shared with us a copy of the GOB's position on 
Kosovo, which is still under review (full text e-mailed to 
EUR/NCE Scott Brandon). The main points include: 
 
--The Bulgarian position on Kosovo is based on Resolution 
1244 of the UN Security Council and "standards before 
status", which was transformed to "standards and status." 
 
--Negotiations should not be expedited forcibly nor have a 
predetermined outcome. 
 
--The application of standards should continue during the 
negotiations. The degree of the implementation of the 
standards should determine the pace of the negotiations, 
especially on key standards like the return of refugees and 
minority rights. 
 
--Support for a common European position. 
 
--Decisions regarding Kosovo's future should be compatible 
with European norms and values as well as: the 
constitutionally guaranteed rights of all citizens regardless 
of their ethnic origin, religious and language identity in 
the framework of one multi-ethnic community; contribution to 
the security and stability of Southeast Europe; acknowledging 
the territorial integrity of its neighbors (i.e. the 
agreement should not generate instability in the region). 
 
--Bulgaria should contribute to Kosovo's stability and 
overcoming its isolation, and support the economic 
development and administrative capacity of Kosovo. 
 
4. (C) Kruleva underscored the importance for the GOB that 
there be a "European future" for Kosovo.  Bulgaria sees 
European integration as the key factor that can bring 
stability and economic development to the Western Balkans. 
President Purvanov highlighted the same theme in his October 
18 CSIS presentation in Washington.  He argued that the 
borders between the Balkan countries, which were the cause of 
so many conflicts, would no longer matter after EU 
integration and that radicalism and separatism would become 
obsolete.  According to Kruleva, these countries need a "road 
map" for European Integration with a set of guidelines and 
expectations, but also a promise of EU membership. Foreign 
Minister Kalfin has echoed this point saying, "there should 
be clear rules which they (all the countries of the Western 
Balkans) must follow and these rules should be tied to the 
various statuses of their negotiations with the EU." Kalfin 
added that "a very clear impression should exist that the 
international community is watching closely whether the 
standards are respected in these countries."   The Bulgarians 
therefore see a strong need for continuing the implementation 
of standards as a part of settling Kosovo's status. 
 
Macedonia Not a Major Concern 
------------------------------ 
 
5. (C) Bulgaria is not particularly concerned about potential 
unrest in Macedonia or a spillover effect in Bulgaria 
relating to Kosovo's future status, according to Kruleva and 
Boiko Todorov from the Center for the Study of Democracy. 
Todorov told us that the problems of Kosovo, including fears 
of an ethnic partition of Macedonia, are distant for most 
Bulgarians.  There is no significant Albanian community here 
and Bulgaria does not have strong trade or investment ties 
with Kosovo. Bulgaria never experienced a large influx of 
Albanian refugees during the Kosovo conflict and the fact 
that the two countries do not share a common border 
contributes to the Bulgarian public's lack of interest in 
Kosovo.  According to Todorov, most Bulgarians view the 
question of Kosovo's status as a "geo-strategic" issue that 
will be sorted out by the great powers. The Bulgarian 
government therefore faces no domestic pressure on Kosovo's 
status, according to Todorov, and is free to chart its own 
course of action.  Todorov, however, believes that the GOB is 
so preoccupied with EU accession now that it would prefer to 
leave the question of Kosovo's status to the EU or the United 
States. 
 
6. (C) Bulgaria's relationship with Macedonia is still 
complicated, according to Todorov.  In the past Bulgaria 
tried to act as a big brother to Macedonia and Skopje still 
remains suspicious of its larger neighbor's intentions and is 
at times resentful of this "big brother" mentality.  Todorov 
said it is difficult for Macedonia to openly accept 
Bulgaria's assistance given domestic pressures.  For now the 
Bulgarian government's desire is to maintain good relations 
with both Macedonia and Serbia and will likely follow the 
dominant opinion of the EU on Kosovo and other matters, 
remarked Todorov. 
 
Others See Kosovo's Independence as Unavoidable 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
7. (C) Others, like former Foreign Minister and current 
chairman of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee 
Solomon Passy, have a dimmer view of what is to come.  Passy 
told us that Kosovo's independence is inevitable and that the 
Bulgarian public "would not be happy" with the eventual 
outcome. Passy said Bulgaria is concerned about any precedent 
of ethnic partition, which could create problems for 
Macedonia or even be exploited by "radical Muslim leaders" in 
Bulgaria itself.  To encourage a peaceful settlement, Passy 
emphasized the need to offer Belgrade a package of incentives 
like NATO and EU membership and improvements in regional 
infrastructure.  Passy was optimistic about the economic 
viability of an independent Kosovo, but thought it would need 
"close international supervision." 
 
Bulgaria Ready to Help in Kosovo Negotiations 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
8. (C) Kruleva told us Bulgaria intends to take an active 
part in the political process to determine Kosovo's future 
status and highlighted Bulgaria's current assistance to 
Kosovo, including supplying Kosovo with electricity during 
the winter.  She also mentioned that a Bulgarian business 
purchased a recently privatized sheet metal factory near 
Pristina which employs 350 people. Bulgaria is strengthening 
Kosovo's administrative capacity by providing training and 
education opportunities to Kosovars. Deputy Foreign Minister 
Lyubomir Kyuchoukov just returned from a trip to Skopje, 
Belgrade and Pristina, which, according to the GOB, was part 
of Bulgaria's approach to pursue a resolution to the problems 
of the Western Balkans and Kosovo. 
 
COMMENT 
-------- 
 
9. (C) We can expect the GOB to support any agreement on 
Kosovo backed by the international community.  Foreign 
Minister Kalfin himself has said that the positions of 
Bulgaria and the United States on Kosovo are very close. 
Bulgaria sees a role for itself in these negotiations, 
although still undefined. End Comment. 
BEYRLE