The Cabinet of outgoing Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev has decided to approve appointments of diplomats despite future prime minister Boiko Borissov's request not to do so.

At the Cabinet's July 9 2009 weekly session it approved the appointment of four ambassadors and five general consuls, Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Luybomir Kuychoukov.

Discussing the appointments was not on the official agenda of the Cabinet meeting, which could be its last given that Borissov, whose party won the July 5 2009 elections, has already declared its intention to form a cabinet as soon as possible.

Kuychoukov did not reveal the names of the appointees but, according to Dnevnik's sources within the Government, these were Stanishev's foreign policy adviser, Boyan Choukov, who would take the post of Bulgaria's ambassador in Macedonia, Deputy Foreign Minister Radion Popov, who will become ambassador in Morocco, former Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lyubomir Popov, who will become ambassador in Japan, and Krassimir Toulechki, who will become Bulgaria's ambassador in Kosovo.

Former Bulgarian Socialist Party MEP Atanas Paparizov will be Bulgaria's general consul in New York.

All Cabinet ministers have supported the nominations, Dnevnik said, quoting European Affairs Minister Gergana Passi as saying that they were all good professionals and the only thing that could cast a shadow over the appointees was that they were approved in the last days of the outgoing Government.

Kyuchoukov also said that Borissov's request was "understandable".

On July 8 2009 Borissov said "I want to ask Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev not to appoint any diplomats at the Cabinet's Thursday (July 9) weekly session".

"Taking such decisions is neither right, nor moral, especially since the people's vote has been clear," Borissov said. "We will form a cabinet as soon as possible and nothing impells Stanishev to take such decisions," Borissov said.

He also hinted that any such last-minute appointments would not be regarded as permanent under his administration. "The full list of the cabinet ministers' names will become clear after the new Parliament begins," Borissov said.

All Cabinet appointees must be approved by President Georgi Purvanov in order to take effect.