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 The Gateway to Eastern Europe - Breaking the chains of the past -
Building the foundations - Privatization speeding up - In search of the old fame -
Infrastructure investments - Tourism - Telecommunications - Entering European markets -
Fruits of private initiative - International recognition - Future looks bright 
 | Interview with
Mr Petar Stoyanov,
President of Bulgaria |
Q: Mr. President, after one year and a half at the presidency your popularity has not decreased. What is the secret of the new style of presidency according to Bulgaria’s priorities?
A: It is not an easy question to answer. I have never sought the secret or the key to this popularity. I am not sure if it is modest enough to answer such a question in the first place. The answer may be that after 45 years of political monologues in this country, my self as well as most of the other politicians here have realized and recognised the need for a political dialogue - a current, ongoing, honest , open dialogue with the population.
The country is in grips of a severe economic crisis and is undergoing a very serious economic reform. The social price of this reform is very high and people are experiencing serious economic difficulties therefore they tend to believe only politicians who conduct a current, ongoing, open and honest dialogue with them.
Q: How would you describe the situation in Bulgaria now-a year after the UDF took power? What are the most important goals that you and your country have achieved in this period? And what are the next steps in the reform?
A: Today the situation in Bulgaria is dramatically, radically different from what it was a year and a half ago. Briefly what has changed is the regained trust of the people in the state and in their politicians and I believe it doesn’t sound again immodest: It is the regained trust of the external world in this country.
There is one major success of the reform process in this country: People realise that the success its self will not come fast or easily but they have the confidence that they are on the right track and this is the only track that will lead them towards the expected success.
About our goals I’ll say that our immediate goal is effected by this transition from the financial stabilisation which has been achieved to an economic growth. If we discuss the longer term objectives it is the economic growth which needs to continue so as to make the country a viable of the European Monetary Union and the European Community eventually.
Q: Bulgaria has also some plans for entering NATO . Do you believe that in the future the United States will be more supportive of Bulgaria’s wish for joining NATO?
A: We would like that to be a fact. We are very much hopeful that we can rely on a serious support of the United States. We also feel encouraged by the most recent debate in Congress and in Senate and their decision to let the doors of NATO open after the first wave of entries and to abandon the idea of a freeze on a second wave.
For us, Bulgarians who have spent 45 years under communist rule, this has a very important psychological aspect. This fact, steps like this and signs like this, are gradually helping us to overcome the hangover of a complex which we call: "The Yalta Complex". Bulgarian people will believe the democratic system more if it can have the assurance , the feeling that its wishes are recognised and respected and that it can enter an organisation whenever if it wishes to and whenever it qualifies, whenever it makes the criteria for membership(in NATO in this particular case). At the same time however I would like to caution that the Bulgarian society is against regarding NATO membership as East European contest of who will cross the finishing line first. For us NATO membership is a well thought, well
-conceived choice of civilisation and culture and we are working very hard to cover and meet the criteria set for that. Therefore I would caution against any over dramatising or even a hysterical wish and ambition to join NATO. I am convinced that whenever we qualify this will happen naturally still there should not be hysteria over the deadlines for NATO membership.
Q: We would like to know what were the results of your visit to the United States three months ago?
A: Briefly I may say that I am happy with the results
of this visit. I was impressed by the wide range
of contacts I had and by the attitude of the USA
and people there to the processes in my country.
Ahead of the visit I was sure that I would have
to remedy a shortage of information in the American
society about Bulgaria. During communist time through
the politics of the Bulgarian politicians this country
remained in the margin of public attention world-wide
and in the United States. I tried to get this message
across there - that Bulgaria was in the communist
camp against its choice and wish and that today
we are following a path which is irreversible. I
also emphasised that this country both geographically
and in cultural terms has been a part of Europe
and it should be helped now to return to the European
family. The third thing I tried to do there was
to provoke interest among serious American investors. |
Q: Lately an increasing number of American companies starts to pay more attention to Bulgaria. Do you thing it will continue? What could be done to make this country more visible and attract people do business?
A: This fact is happening in the statistics of the increasing number of companies investing here. I was encouraged to here of two American companies investing in a very small town-Sevlievo in two local factories. I remember during my talks with Christopher Forbes that I told him as an honest lawyer if I was asked three years ago if it was good to invest in Bulgaria I would say : No, you would better wait and see and then you may invest . But now I would say to any one: Come, do invest in this country . It is a safe place to do so. And these are my reasons, this is my case: There’s an unique favourable political situation in this country. Parliament, Government and President act in concert and follow the same course. The Government enjoys relatively good public support for undertaking such a severe reform promises-over 50%. In other words this is a stable country with a trustful political set up. Geographically too we are a favourable place to invest. We must admit we are a small market but on the other hand we are situated on the crossroad between major routes: Between the Middle East, the Caspian area, the Caucasus and Central and Western Europe. Indeed this geographical location fully corresponds with our political vision about very active involvement of Bulgaria into major infrastructures projects of involving both the East and the West.
Another major asset for Bulgaria as a potential country where it is good to invest for foreigners is the high technological level and qualification of Bulgarian labour , highly skilled even in modern technology and high-tech.
Another subject that we discussed in the United States which touches upon this of the skilled work force was the CD piracy and the computer viruses which we have taken serious measures to put an end to. But it has a different aspect: It shows the high intellectual level of Bulgarians, their high skills and potential which regretfully was used to a wrong end and this where solid , good , reliable investment could help harness these potentials and high skills and direct them towards for the right cause which could be of mutual interests. Incidentally precisely investment in these productions is the most effective way of overcoming this and fighting such piracy.
Q: What are the most pleasant and the most uncomfortable things you have discovered since becoming a president?
A: This is the most difficult question. I must admit that thing which I like most, which I found most rewarding and pleasant was whenever I walked in the streets of Sofia or any other city in Bulgaria and when I run into people, I meet people incidentally and they tell me that their confidence and their faith had returned in this country, in this government and they are ready to work now for this new Bulgaria. Another instance when say the United States or in other world capitals I had those meetings with young Bulgarian students-very intelligent, ambitious young people, they will tell me that they are ready now to return to Bulgaria and work fir it and they feel proud that this country has opted for the European and civilised type of government.
As for the uncomfortable and unpleasant things of a presidency I would rather not comment on this because otherwise I may quench and kill the desire of any potential candidate to run for the office of the president. Honestly there may be many unpleasant things but someone must do the job.
Q: What are you doing your in free time, if you have any at all?
A: Indeed my free time is very scarce. One of the few things that I can still allow for my self is to do my jogging exercise very early in the morning-a few kilometres. Or on an odd weekend I could spare half a day to go wandering and hiking in the mountains. As to cultural and entertainment side of it the only thing that I can attend once and a while is at a Jazz concert because they start rather late after 9
Q: Mr. President, keeping in mind that you are reaching 2.5 million readers, what will be your final message to them?
A: My message to your young, intelligent and ambitious
team is to be successful and carry on showing interest
in such serious subjects. As to your readership
I wish them personal health, of course, success
and prosperity and let them look to Bulgaria as
a prospective partner, as a viable member of the
Economic Community who is responsible to play its
ambitious role and to shoulder its responsibilities
in a widely global village. Indeed Bulgaria gained
some popularity 4 years ago during the world cup
with its football success. I very much wish that
the next time it is heard about us in the USA when
people hear about our economic success, its sustained
democracy and that we guarantee for peace and stability
in the region where we are in the Balkans. |
© World INvestment NEws, 1998.
This is the electronic edition of the special country report on Bulgaria
published in FORBES Magazine's
November 30th issue.
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BULGARIA, 
