Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12779 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AMED ASEC AF AORC AMGT AFIN AJ AR AS AE ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AU AID AG ASCH AA AL AM AORL AEMR APECO APER ASEAN APEC ADM AFSI AFSN ABLD ADCO ABUD ASUP AN AIT AGR ACOA ANET ASIG AGMT AINF AECL AFFAIRS ADANA AY AADP ARF AGAO ACS AMCHAMS ADPM ATRN ALOW AND APCS ACAO AORG AROC AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AC AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AFU AMG ATPDEA
BL BR BTIO BA BG BEXP BTIU BO BK BBSR BU BRUSSELS BD BM BIDEN BE BH BILAT BF BY BC BB BT BX BP BMGT BWC BN
CO CA CASC CJAN CI CH CNARC CS CU CVIS CACM CG CMGT CPAS CB CD CM CV CDG CIDA CWC CLINTON CHR CBW COE CR CE CIS CDC CONS CY CW CF CODEL CIA CROS CAPC CT CBSA CEUDA COM CFED CACS CAC CIC COPUOS CL CARSON CN CTR CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CARICOM CSW CITT CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC
DR DEA DEAX DHS DAO DCM DJ DA DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE
ECON EAID EC EUN EAIR EFIN EINV EG EXTERNAL ENRG EPET ETRD EAGR ETTC ECIN ELAB EUREM ET EU ELN ECPS ER EIND EMIN ELTN EWWT EFIS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPA EINT ES EUC ENGR ENERG EN EZ ERD EFTA EK ETRC EI ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ENVI ECINECONCS ELECTIONS ENVR EXIM ENIV ESA EUR ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EFINECONCS EUMEM ERNG ECONOMY ECA EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA EAIG
FR FI FAC FARC FTA FJ FAO FDA FMLN FBI FO FAS FTAA FOREIGN FOR FM FREEDOM FISO FINANCE FINR FOI
GE GOI GM GG GR GT GCC GV GH GOV GA GTIP GY GERARD GZ GAERC GANGS GTMO GL GF GAZA GLOBAL
HO HA HILLARY HYMPSK HR HU HSTC HK HEBRON HUMOR HI HURI HUMAN
IT IR IS IC IAEA IN IZ ICTY ICAO IO IMO INMARSAT INDO IL ID IRS IQ IA ICRC IDA ICJ IV IAHRC IBRD IMF IWC ILO ISLAMISTS IGAD ILC ITU ITF INRA INRO INRB ITALY IBET INTELSAT ISRAELI IRC ITRA IDP ICTR IEFIN IRAQI IPR IIP ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL INTERPOL IEA INR ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IACI
JO JA JM JOSEPH JP JUS JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE
KJUS KPAO KIRF KDEM KCOR KPAL KNNP KCRM KWMN KIRC KMDR KIPR KWBG KTFN KGHG KE KUNR KMPI KOMC KPKO KSCA KFLU KFIN KSUM KTDB KAWC KRVC KGIC KFRD KISL KTIP KVPR KICC KHDP KCFE KTIA KSEO KCIP KZ KG KWAC KSPR KRAD KPRP KN KS KHLS KTEX KNAR KPLS KGCC KPAK KSTC KFLO KSEP KV KSTH KU KSCI KOLY KIDE KOMS KMCA KACT KHIV KBCT KDRG KBTR KAWK KPWR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRIM KDDG KPRV KTBT KSAF KMOC KBIO KREC KCGC KPAI KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KO KVIR KFSC KMFO KID KMIG KGIT KWMM KHSA KX KPOA KNEI KCRS KR KVRP KENV KCRCM KBTS KNSD KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KMRS KNPP KJUST KCMR KTER KRCM KCFC KSAC KCHG KREL KFTFN KCOM KLIG KDEMAF KAID KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KRGY KIFR KWMNCS
LO LE LY LI LA LG LH LU LTTE LAB LOG LT LABOR
MOPS MASS MX MNUC MAPP MARR MCAP MZ MR MO MT ML MA MY MTCRE MIL MD MASSMNUC MU MK MTCR MUCN MEPP MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MTRE MASC MG MRCRE MPS MW MARAD MC MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC
NZ NATO NSF NL NE NU NK NSSP NI NA NS NPT NO NDP NSC NAFTA NH NV NP NPA NSFO NG NT NW NASA NSG NORAD NATIONAL NPG NGO NR NIPP NZUS NC NEW NRR NAR NATOPREL
OTRA OIIP OPRC OMIG OREP OVIP OVP OSCE OPIC OSCI OEXC OECD OIE OPDC OAS ON OCII OPAD OBSP OFFICIALS ODIP OPCW OES OFDP OIC OCS OHUM OTR OSAC OFDA
PREL PE PGOV PHUM PINS PTER PINR PL PARM PK PM PREF PBTS PNAT PA POL PLN POLITICAL PARTIES PO PHSA PCUL PAK PGGV PAO PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBIO PAS PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PROP PP PINL PBT PTBS PG PINF PRL PMIL PALESTINIAN PDOV PRAM PSEPC PROG POV PROV POLITICS POLICY PCI POSTS PREO PAHO PHUMPGOV PREFA PSI PAIGH PARMS PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNR POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PGOC PY PHUH PF PHUS PU
QA
RU RS RW RP RFE REGION REACTION REPORT RO RCMP ROOD RSO RM ROBERT RICE RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL
SOCI SENV SY SMIG SA SNAR SW SU SO SP SCUL SZ SR SHUM SARS SF SN SC SIPRS SI SEVN STEINBERG SG SYR SWE SK SH SNARCS SAARC SPCE SNARN SNARIZ SEN SCRS SYRIA SL SENVKGHG SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SANC SHI
TBIO TU TRGY TW TIP TPHY TS TT TNGD TSPL TH TSPA TD TI TX TZ TC TINT TN TP TBID TF TL THPY TV TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TFIN TAGS TR
UK US UNSC UNCHR UN USTR UNHRC UNGA UG UNEP UZ UP UNESCO UNPUOS USEU UNMIK UNDC UY UNICEF UNDP UNAUS UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNO UV UNHCR USUN UNCND USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC
VE VT VM VZ VI VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG VAT VC
WMO WWARD WHTI WTRO WHO WHA WS WTO WTRQ WBG WFP WB WI WMD WIPO WZ WITH WEU WA
XL XW XS XR XA XM XD XV XK XX XG XY XF XU XI XT XH XB XQ XE XTAG XZ XC
YM YI YE YMCS
ZB ZF ZI ZK ZR ZP ZU ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05SOFIA187, BULGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SIGNS SUSPECT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05SOFIA187.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05SOFIA187 | 2005-01-31 15:53 | 2011-05-05 19:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Sofia

Appears in these articles:
http://www.bivol.bg/wlarmy.html
http://balkans.blog.lemonde.fr/2011/05/05/et-la-bulgarie-renonca-aux-corvettes-francaises/
http://www.capital.bg/politika_i_ikonomika/bulgaria/2011/05/05/1085393_kak_se_pileiat_pari_v_otbranata/

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L  SOFIA 000187

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/15
    TAGS: MASS PREL BEXP ETRD KCOR BU NATO
    SUBJECT: BULGARIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SIGNS SUSPECT
    EUROCOPTER DEAL DESPITE EMBASSY PROTEST

    REF: 04 SOFIA 2295

    (U) CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JAMES PARDEW, FOR REASONS
    1.4 (B) AND (D).

    ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Despite a letter from the Ambassador
    questioning the adequacy of the process used to select
    the winning bidder, Defense Minister Svinarov signed
    January 28 a deal worth up to USD 400 million for the
    purchase of 18 Cougar and Panther helicopters from
    EADS.  Sikorsky Helicopter was the runner-up in the
    competition.  We recommend that SecDef Rumsfeld raise
    the lack of transparency in defense procurement when
    he meets Svinarov in Washington later this week.  End
    summary.

    2.(C)  Svinarov and EADS Vice President Luc Berrier
    signed the contract despite assurances to us by the
    Ministry of Finance that funding had not been
    authorized.  The Eurocopter deal has been shadowed by
    allegations of a predetermined outcome almost since
    its inception.  The MOD rushed the entire tender
    through in just two months (reftel), leaving Sikorsky
    to play catch-up in a competition that many believe
    was decided in advance.  The agreement with EADS
    brings to three the number of multi-million dollar
    procurement contracts completed in a hurried and non-
    transparent manner over the last year, the other two
    being for Pilatus aircraft and Daimler-Chrysler
    vehicles.  The next major procurement decision will
    likely be for new transport aircraft.  In this tender,
    the Spanish firm CASA is competing against a
    consortium of Lockheed Martin and the Italian firm
    Alenia.  Lockheed and Alenia co-produce the C-27.  The
    MOD is also negotiating to purchase four corvettes for
    the Bulgarian navy.

    ¶3. (C) Bulgaria's Public Procurement Act allows the
    MOD to award no-bid contracts for orders bearing on
    national security.  The law is an open invitation to
    corruption, and is widely cited as a cover for
    kickback schemes and sweetheart deals.  In cases where
    tenders are conducted, such as the helicopter deal
    cited above, they are often pro forma exercises
    designed only to give the impression of fair
    competition.

    ¶4. (C) In a letter to Svinarov on December 14 (text
    below), the Embassy protested the manner in which the
    helicopter tender was handled.  We ask SecDef Rumsfeld
    to make a similar point regarding transparency in
    procurement when he meets Svinarov later this week.
    Suggested talking points follow:

    -- We are concerned by the lack of transparency in
    defense procurement.

    -- Your recent decision to purchase the Eurocopter was
    the result of a truncated and opaque tender process.

    -- Tenders such as this one can only tarnish the
    reputation of the Ministry of Defense and lead to
    speculation that factors other than price and
    capability led to the outcome.

    -- It is important that your military procurement
    process be subject to internationally recognized
    standards of openness and transparency.

    ¶5. (U) Following is the text of the Ambassador's
    December 14 letter to MOD Svinarov:

    Dear Mr. Minister:

    The modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces is a
    vital component of Bulgaria's ability to become a
    security contributor within NATO.  The purchase of new
    equipment for the Bulgarian military plays an important
    part in that modernization process.

    We are seriously concerned that the present mechanisms
    for tenders to re-equip the Bulgarian Armed Forces do not
    meet accepted international standards of open and fair
    competition.  The process to choose major equipment,
    including the recent tender for new helicopters, is
    unrealistically hasty and lacks the necessary
    transparency to verify fairness.

    Normally, a procurement process on the scale of the
    recent helicopter purchase is an 18-24 month process;

    however in this case, the entire process - from tender
    offer to conclusion - lasted only two months. Below is a
    timeline summary of this hasty tender process:

    18 August 2004 - First contact between Sikorsky and
    Government of Bulgaria officials
    21 September - Letter of Interest received by Sikorsky
    27 September - Official Sikorsky Presentation to the
    Ministry of Defense
    13 October - Document announcing Tender received
    2-10 November - Technical Negotiations
    11-12 NovemberQ- Price Negotiations
    16 November - Committee recommendation to the Minister of
    Defense
    24 November 2004 - Minister Svinarov publicly announces
    the conclusion of the deal

    When technical negotiations began on November 2, Sikorsky
    was required to translate 712 pages of technical
    documentation within a 10 day-period, even though the
    other company involved in the bid obviously had advance
    notice of this procurement (Their pricing volume was as
    large as the entire technical documentation package from
    Sikorsky).

    During this period, the Ministry of Defense sent no
    personnel to inspect or fly Sikorsky's aircraft despite
    numerous offers on behalf of the company.   We find it
    highly unusual that a major defense equipment expenditure
    of up to $500 million was based on two-week technical and
    price negotiations without even a physical evaluation of
    Sikorsky's aircraft.

    While we are always happy to see American products win a
    tender; however, my interest in this case is less on who
    won the tender than on how it was conducted.  Such
    tenders should be thorough, open, fair and transparent.
    There are internationally recognized procedures for major
    procurements that ensure transparency and guarantee
    Bulgaria receives the best value for its procurement
    money.  This seems especially important as Bulgaria
    begins its military modernization process with limited
    resources.

    A major procurement handled in such a rushed manner
    inevitably leads to questions about the legitimacy of the
    process and damages Bulgaria's reputation in the American
    business community.  We urge you to carefully review your
    procurement policies as you move forward with your
    modernization plans.

    Please accept, Mr. Minister, the assurances of my highest
    consideration.

    Sincerely,

    James W. Pardew
    Ambassador

`