Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12856 / 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 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23

### 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
1996/07 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 Consulate Karachi
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
AVERY AMGT AR ASEC AMED AORC AG AU AM APEC ABUD AF AS AGRICULTURE AEMR ASEAN APECO ACOA AJ AO AFIN ABLD ADPM AY ASCH AE AFFAIRS AA AC ARF APER AFU AINF AODE AMG ATPDEA AGAO ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AID AL AORL AFSI AFSN ADCO ASUP AN AIT ANET ASIG AGMT ADANA AADP ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ADM ACAO AND ATRN ALOW APCS AORG AROC ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ ASEX AER
BR BA BO BL BK BT BD BU BBSR BMGT BM BY BX BTIO BEXP BG BB BH BF BP BWC BRUSSELS BN BTIU BIDEN BE BILAT BC
CA CS CASC CO CI CD CH CN CY CONDOLEEZZA CU CE CVIS CG CMGT CF CPAS CDC CW CJAN CJUS CTM CM CFED CODEL CWC CR CBW CAN CLMT CBC CONS COUNTERTERRORISM CIA CDG CIC COUNTER CT CNARC CACM CB CV CIDA CLINTON CHR COE CIS CBSA CEUDA CAC CL CACS CAPC CTR COM CROS CARSON COPUOS CICTE CYPRUS COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR CITEL CLEARANCE CARICOM CSW CITT CDB
DA DR DTRA DEA DHS DJ DO DEAX DAO DCM DE DOD DOMESTIC DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DS DEFENSE
EUN ECON ELAB ETRD EFIN ECIN EAGR EAIR EN EG ECA ET ER EWWT EIND EINV EAID EC EU EFIS ETTC EPET ENRG EMIN ECPS ENGR EINVETC ELTN ECONCS EZ ES EI ECONOMIC ELN EINT EPA ETRA EXTERNAL ESA ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EAIG EUR EK EUMEM EUREM EUC ENERG ERD EFTA ETRC ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ENVI ECINECONCS ELECTIONS ENVR ENIV ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EXIM EFINECONCS ECONOMY ERNG EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL
FI FR FTA FTAA FBI FAC FJ FM FDA FARC FAO FO FOR FMLN FISO FAS FREEDOM FOREIGN FINANCE FINR FOI
GV GA GG GE GM GH GTIP GT GZ GAERC GR GOI GCC GOV GY GANGS GERARD GTMO GL GF GAZA GLOBAL
HK HUMAN HA HO HR HU HURI HILLARY HYMPSK HSTC HEBRON HUMOR HI
IV IS IC IIP IR ICRC IZ IWC IAEA IT IN IRS ICAO IQ IMO ILC IMF ILO IF ITPHUM IL IO ID ISRAEL IACI INMARSAT IPR ICTY ICJ INDO IA IDA IBRD IAHRC ISLAMISTS IGAD ITU ITF INRA INRO INRB ITALY IBET INTELSAT ISRAELI IDP ICTR ITRA IRC IRAQI IEFIN ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL INTERPOL IEA INR IZPREL IRAJ
JA JP JO JM JOSEPH JUS JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE
KPAO KV KGIT KPAL KDEM KCRM KISL KPKO KSCA KOMC KTFN KNNP KN KZ KIPR KE KCIP KWMN KGIC KTIA KFRD KHDP KSEP KMPI KG KIRF KJUS KWBG KHLS KCOR KMDR KU KTDB KTIP KS KFLU KGHG KRAD KSPR KHIV KCOM KAID KOM KUNR KRVC KICC KBTS KSUM KOLY KAWC KIRC KDRG KCRS KNPP KSTH KWNM KRFD KVIR KLIG KFLO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KVPR KTEX KTER KRGY KCFE KIDE KSTC KREC KR KPAONZ KIFR KOCI KBTR KBIO KMCA KGCC KACT KMRS KAWK KSAC KWMNCS KNEI KPOA KSEO KFIN KWAC KNAR KPLS KPAK KSCI KPRP KOMS KBCT KPWR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRIM KDDG KPRV KSAF KCGC KPAI KFSC KMFO KID KMIG KVRP KNSD KMOC KTBT KENV KCMR KWMM KHSA KO KX KCRCM KNUP KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KTRD KJUST KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KDEMAF KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN
LY LE LH LABOR LI LG LO LA LU LOG LTTE LAB LT
MARR MOPS MO MASS MX MA MR MNUC MCAP MAPS MD MV MTCRE MY MP ML MILITARY MEPN MARAD MDC MU MEPP MIL MAPP MZ MT MASSMNUC MK MTCR MUCN MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MG MPS MW MC MTRE MRCRE MASC MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK
NATO NL NI NZ NG NO NP NK NU NDP NPT NSF NR NAFTA NATOPREL NS NEW NA NE NSSP NSC NH NV NPA NSFO NT NW NASA NSG NORAD NATIONAL NPG NGO NIPP NZUS NC NRR NAR
OEXC OVIP OTRA ODIP OFDP OPDC OPIC OIIP OPRC OAS OREP OSCE OECD OPCW OSCI OMIG OVP OIE ON OCII OPAD OBSP OFFICIALS OES OCS OIC OHUM OTR OSAC OFDA
PTER PREL PE PHUM PGOV PARM PINR PREF PINS PBTS PA PK PM PL PO POL PROP PSOE PHSA PAK PY PLN PMAR PHUH PBIO PF PHUS PTBS PU PNAT POLITICAL PARTIES PCUL PGGV PAO PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PAS PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PP PINL PBT PG PINF PRL PALESTINIAN PSEPC POSTS PAHO PROV PHUMPGOV POV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL PREO POLITICS POLICY PDOV PCI PRAM PSI PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PGOF PKFK PEPR PPA PINT PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON
QA
RS RU RW RIGHTSPOLMIL RICE RUPREL RIGHTS RO RF RELATIONS RP RM RFE REGION REACTION REPORT RCMP RSO ROOD ROBERT RSP
SCUL SNAR SP SENV SU SO SMIG SOCI SW SA SZ SY SL SENVKGHG SF SR SN SARS SANC SHI SIPDIS SEVN SHUM SC SI STEINBERG SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SG SYRIA SNARIZ SWE SIPRS SYR SAARC SEN SCRS SAN ST SSA SPCVIS SOFA
TSPL TBIO TU TH TP TRGY TPHY TZ TW TX TSPA TFIN TC TI TS TAGS TK TIP TNGD TL TV TT TINT TERRORISM TR TN TD TBID TF THPY TO TRSY TURKEY
UN UNSC UK US UNGA UNDP UP UG USTR UNHRC UY UNESCO UNMIK UNEP UZ UNO UNHCR USEU UNAUS UNCHR UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UNIDROIT UV UNCND USUN USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC
VZ VM VE VT VAT VC VI VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG
WS WHA WHO WTRO WIPO WEU WZ WTO WMO WA WWARD WHTI WTRQ WBG WFP WB WI WMD WITH
XA XR XM XG XW XB XV XF XD XS XK XY XC XL XZ XX XU XI XT XH XQ XE XTAG
YI YM YE YMCS
ZI ZF ZU ZR ZK ZANU ZB ZEALAND ZP ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZJ ZN ZA

### 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 09SOFIA696, BULGARIA PREPARES TO ANSWER RUSSIA ON ENERGY

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. #09SOFIA696.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09SOFIA696 | 2009-12-09 15:20 | 2011-04-29 12:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Sofia
Appears in these articles: http://www.bivol.bg/wlbelene.html http://www.capital.bg/politika_i_ikonomika/bulgaria/2011/04/29/1082317_mrusna_energiia/ http://wlcentral.org/node/1722

`

    VZCZCXRO1427
    OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
    DE RUEHSF #0696/01 3431520
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 091520Z DEC 09
    FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6530
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SOFIA 000696

    SIPDIS

    FOR SPE MORNINGSTAR
    DOE FOR ELKIND, CUTLER, EKIMOFF

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019
    TAGS: ENRG ECON PREL PGOV BU
    SUBJECT: BULGARIA PREPARES TO ANSWER RUSSIA ON ENERGY
    PROJECTS

    REF: SOFIA 674

    Classified By: CDA Susan Sutton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

    ¶1.  (C)  Summary:  The Prime Minister, President and Energy
    Minister briefed SPE Morningstar December 4 on changes in the
    Bulgarian energy sector and preparations for the next round
    of Bulgarian-Russian intergovernmental economic committee
    meetings.   The Russian delegation, led by Energy Minister
    Schmatko, will arrive December 10 and expects to hear the new
    Bulgarian government's intentions on three large-scale energy
    projects to which the last government commited Bulgaria.
    Bulgarian officials told SPE Morningstar that Bulgaria will
    continue to pursue the South Stream gas pipeline, is still
    studying the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and will
    open a new tender for strategic investors for the now-frozen
    Belene Nuclear Power Plant project.  Knowing they will be
    dependent on Russian energy sources for the foreseeable
    future and cannot rely on a common EU energy policy to
    protect their interests, the Bulgarians will stay engaged
    with Moscow while pursuing alternatives in the form of
    Nabucco, interconnectors, CNG/LNG possibilities and nuclear
    fuel diversification.  End Summary.

    ¶2.  (C)  In a series of meetings with Bulgarian officials,
    businesses, energy experts and foreign diplomats December 4,
    SPE Morningstar commended the new government for its
    concerted efforts to bring greater diversification and
    transparency to the notoriously-opague energy sector.  He
    urged the Prime Minister and President to continue Bulgaria's
    outreach to Southern Corridor gas producers and Turkey to
    secure progress on Nabucco.  He suggested that Bulgaria work
    more closely with like-minded EU member states in the region
    to ensure EU energy policy protected CEE country interests.
    SPE Morningstar stressed the need for continued work on
    regional interconnectors, diversification in the nuclear
    sector, including the use of alternative nuclear fuel and
    spent fuel storage capabilities, and efforts to promote
    greater transparency in the energy sector.

    THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
    -----------------------

    ¶3.  (C)  The Bulgarians described their strategy ahead of the
    arrival to Sofia of Russian Energy Minister Schmatko's
    delegation December 10.  Energy Minister Traykov stated there
    will be no surprises in Bulgaria's announcement about Sofia's
    participation in Russian-led energy projects.  Bulgaria will
    continue to pursue South Stream, as this pipeline has become
    "a European project" and lessens Bulgaria's dependence on
    Ukraine as a transit country.  Bulgaria still has
    environmental and other concerns about the
    Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, so will call for
    additional studies on this project before making an
    investment decision.  The Belene Nuclear Power Plant is
    currently frozen, having lost its strategic investor (RWE).
    To avoid "kill costs" and keep Moscow reasonably content,
    Traykov said Bulgaria will, reluctantly, open a new tender in
    an attempt to attract outside investors to the beleaguered
    project.  Once the Russians leave, Bulgaria will continue to
    work on diversification and reform of the energy sector.  He
    said Bulgaria is ready to move forward with a pilot
    relationship with the Extractive Industries Transparency
    Initiative, as one way to increase transparency in Bulgaria's
    gas transit sector.

    PRESIDENT STRESSES SOUTHERN CORRIDOR OUTREACH
    ---------------------------------------------

    ¶4.  (C)  President Parvanov, who led Bulgarian energy policy
    under the previous government, detailed his continued
    outreach to southern corridor energy producers, including
    recent visits to Sofia by the Presidents of Turkmenistan and
    Azerbaijan.  He noted that Bulgaria has agreements to buy gas
    from both countries, but lamented the lack of alternatives to
    access the agreed-upon quantities.  He urged continued USG
    efforts to secure a Turkish transit agreement with Azerbaijan
    and described Bulgarian plans for a hook-up to the TGI
    pipeline and a joint Azerbaijan-Bulgarian study of taking
    compressed natural gas across the Black Sea via tanker.
    Parvanov expressed concern about Nabucco, saying that South
    Steam was becoming ever dominant, with Gazprom's proposal to
    increase the project's capacity to 63 bcm and the recent

    SOFIA 00000696  002 OF 002

    Turkish agreement on South Stream's route.

    PM RAILS AGAINST EU DISUNITY; SEEKS MORE US ENGAGEMENT
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶5.  (C)  A clearly frustrated Prime Minister Borissov used
    his time with SPE Morningstar to rail against EU disunity in
    the face of Russian energy dominance, particularly in this
    region.  Borissov complained that the EU was holding up
    funding for proposed interconnectors with Greece and Romania
    (the Bulgarians heard later in the day the EU would fund
    those projects) and that small, energy dependent EU member
    states were held hostage to the energy ambitions of Italy,
    France and Germany.  He lamented that Bulgaria, the poorest
    EU member state, was still a net-contributor to the EU,
    causing a rise of Euro-skepticism in the country.  He also
    urged more U.S. engagement in Bulgaria to show that Bulgarian
    efforts on Afghanistan, missile defense and other priorities
    are appreciated and rewarded.  In particular, he called for
    inclusion of Bulgaria into the US Visa Waiver Program (a real
    sore point with the new government) and asked us to use USG
    good offices with the EU to support Bulgaria's inclusion into
    ERM-II and the Eurozone (something he described as
    "absolutely free" for the United States (reported septel)).
    He noted that the Russian presence in Bulgaria is growing
    ever stronger, with continued state-sponsored cultural
    events, high-level visits and offers of investment.  His
    government, he said, was trying to make the right decisions
    -- on rule of law, our security relationship, transparency,
    and energy diversification, but to pull this off, Bulgaria
    needs more attention, engagement and support from both
    Brussels and Washington.  SPE Morningstar agreed and promised
    to raise the PM's concerns in Washington.

    ¶6.  (C)  Comment:  The Bulgarians will play it safe when the
    Russians come to town December 10.  Knowing they will be
    dependent on Russian gas for years to come (and being in the
    middle of long-term gas supply contract negotiations) the
    Bulgarians can't afford to kill all of the Russian-dominated
    projects agreed to by the last government.  Nor do they want
    to.  Sofia sees increasing value in South Stream as lessening
    its dependence on Ukraine as a transit country.   The
    government wants to be rid of Belene, but believes it will be
    too costly -- either in contractual kill costs or fall-out
    with Russia -- to let the project die at this time.  Once the
    Russians leave, we should up our engagement with the clearly
    frustrated Prime Minister, who is making tough decisions on
    everything from rule of law to energy, but feeling little
    support from outside partners.

    ¶7.  (U)  SPE Morningstar cleared this message.
    SUTTON

`