|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/roger.dnai/97Book/ |
Upload File : |
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//SoftQuad//DTD HoTMetaL PRO 4.0::19971010::extensions to HTML 4.0//EN"
"hmpro4.dtd">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META NAME="GENERATOR"
CONTENT="Mozilla/4.03 (Macintosh; U; 68K) [Netscape]">
<TITLE>Nadezhda Mihailova</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" BGPROPERTIES="FIXED">
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+3">Bulgaria
and NATO Enlargement</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><FONT SIZE="+2">Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Nadezhda Mihailova</FONT></FONT></FONT></CENTER>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">GROWTH AND REFORM IN
BULGARIA</FONT></FONT></B></H4> </CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The road that democratic
Bulgaria has traveled over the last years has been difficult and sometimes
painful. But today I am proud to state that the country has successfully
passed the crucial test of democracy and that its political transition is
over. The recent presidential and parliamentary elections confirmed that
democracy and the rule of law in Bulgaria are deeply rooted and
functioning. The changes in our country, I can assure you, are
irreversible.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Bulgaria has the firm
political will, the absolute parliamentary support, and the program
strategy to continue to transform our country. The unity of purpose
displayed by the President, the reform-minded parliamentary majority, and
the strong cabinet, as well as the broad political and popular consensus
achieved on all key domestic and international priorities, will be
important pillars and guarantees for a stable course of reform in a
Euro-Atlantic direction.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">The government of the
United Democratic Forces coalition, which I am honored to represent, is
strongly committed to speeding up and finalizing the remaining changes
Bulgaria urgently needs. Our program--symbolically entitled "Bulgaria
2001"--is a long-term social contract that we will implement by
bringing the country into the 21st century as a modern European democracy
with a market economy.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">We firmly believe that the
earliest possible admission of Bulgaria into NATO is of the most immediate
national interest. The will to join the North Atlantic Alliance at such an
early date is an expression of our categorical and sovereign choice and
not the result of the politics of the day. Our willingness to accede to
the Alliance is motivated by our adhering to the Western set of values.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">NATO membership is seen as
an efficient vehicle for the modernization of our country. The very
prospect of joining Euro-Atlantic institutions has been a driving force
for the pro-reform movement in Bulgaria and one of the main incentives for
our constructive foreign policy over the last seven years. However, we
firmly believe that Bulgaria's membership in the Alliance will not only
provide a reliable source of guarantees for our national security. It will
also enhance its capabilities to contribute to stability and security in
the region. Our understanding of NATO enlargement is that it goes beyond
the provision of a security umbrella to new members.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">BULGARIA AND REGIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">President Václav
Havel, said years ago that "a long-forgotten history will come back
to haunt us, a history full of thousands of economic, social, ethical,
ethnic, territorial, cultural, and political problems that remained latent
and unnoticed under the surface of totalitarian boredom." Some of
these problems have had tragic consequences in parts of Southeastern
Europe. However, with its policy of good-neighbor and balanced relations
with all countries in the region, Bulgaria has remained an island of
stability and security. We have had no territorial, border, ethnic, or
religious disputes with any of our neighbors. Over the last seven years
the climate of religious and ethnic tolerance in Bulgaria has been praised
internationally. Democratic Bulgaria has maintained friendly relations
with all countries in the region and conducted itself internationally in a
civilized manner irrespective of our integration priorities.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Bulgaria has a common
border and forms a common security space with Turkey and Greece, two NATO
member-states and two very good neighbors. We are convinced that
Bulgaria's early accession to the Alliance would further strengthen
security and stability in Southeastern Europe and NATO's southeastern
flank. The enlargement of the Alliance to the southeast would provide for
territorial and strategic continuity as well as additional guarantees
against latent risks. It would certainly contribute to the greater
coherence of the Euro-Atlantic security and defense area. Our early
accession would also assure the safety of transregional infrastructure and
energy systems.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">A geographically balanced
approach to NATO enlargement would minimize the risk of establishing gray
zones on the Continent. In this context, we believe that the security of
NATO and, indeed, of all Europe would only benefit from an equal treatment
of the Black Sea applicant countries that qualify to become additional
strongholds of regional stability. In our view, the ultimate linkage of
NATO's northern and southern flanks would be an important step on the path
to achieving the goal of an undivided European security space. Bulgaria is
ready and willing to join the Alliance not in competition with but in
cooperation with the other candidates.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">In the area of defense,
most of you are probably aware of the ongoing transformation and
restructuring of our armed forces, including their downsizing and the
strengthening of civilian control. Reforms are also underway in our
defense industry, a significant part of which will be privatized. These
changes will enable us to be a real net contributor to the Alliance's
collective defense. Our record shows our committed involvement with
peacekeeping, which we will further enhance. Our contribution to the
NATO-led IFOR/SFOR in Bosnia is tangible proof of our readiness to
contribute to Allied efforts toward securing peace and stability in the
Euro-Atlantic area.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<CENTER>
<H4><B><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">MEMBERSHIP IN AN
ENLARGED NATO</FONT></FONT></B></H4></CENTER>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I would like to state that
the Bulgarian government welcomed the Founding Act on Mutual Relations,
Cooperation, and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation, as well
as the Ukraine-NATO Charter. These political documents represent a sound
basis for the complete elimination of a divided Europe and for the
transformation of our continent into a common, peaceful, stable, and
indivisible security space. We welcome the provision in the Founding Act
that reaffirms the inherent right of all states to choose the means by
which to ensure their own security. We hope that the Founding Act will not
lead to any delay or limitation of the forthcoming Alliance enlargement,
nor confer second-class status to future new members.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">I would not like to
prejudge the decisions to be made in Madrid. Bulgaria respects President
Clinton's statement that the U.S. will support inviting the three
countries that most clearly meet NATO membership criteria to begin
accession talks in Madrid. We expect from the Summit a clear and firm
commitment that the Alliance will remain open and that the first-round
invitations are only the beginning of a process that will continue without
undue delay. Bulgaria expects to be designated one of the interested
countries that the Alliance would help prepare for membership.</FONT></FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">In this context, we are
particularly encouraged by the fact that, during my recent visit to
Washington, the U.S. government reaffirmed its position that it regards
Bulgaria as a serious candidate for future membership in the Alliance.
Also encouraging is the U.S. Senate's State Department Authorization Act,
fiscal year 1998-1999, which designates Bulgaria as eligible for receiving
assistance in preparation for NATO membership.</FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Bulgaria has made a
definitive break with its past. Allied support for Bulgaria's early
accession to NATO is an act of Atlantic solidarity my country deserves.</FONT></FONT>
<A HREF="Mihai97.htm">Go to top of Page</A><BR>
<FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="workshop97.htm">Return
to Prague '97</A></FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT FACE="Palatino"><FONT COLOR="#000000"><A HREF="../index.html">Return
to Home Page</A></FONT></FONT> <BR> <BR> </P>
</BODY>
</HTML>