10 February 1998
(Mihailova at Feb. 10 forum on NATO enlargement) (740) Washington -- "Bulgaria sees early accession to NATO as a critical national interest and a strategic priority, and we are ready to shoulder every obligation of the Washington Treaty as soon as possible," Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihailova told participants at a forum on "The Economic Impact of NATO Enlargement," sponsored by The European Institute February 10. Mihailova was part of the delegation accompanying Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov, who was on a working visit to Washington at the invitation of President Clinton. The foreign minister also spoke -- in English -- February 9 at a conference sponsored by The New Atlantic Initiative and the American Enterprise Institute. In addition to NATO enlargement, she discussed, in response to questions, Bulgaria's relations with Turkey and the public's response to the Stoyanov government's economic reform program. "In joining NATO, Bulgaria will give, not merely take. We can and will contribute to regional stability, not just consume security," Mihailova said. NATO enlargement in the direction of southeastern Europe will provide lasting security benefits, she said. "With Bulgaria as a new member, the Alliance will be able to encourage the strengthening of democratic institutions and attitudes throughout the region. It could do far more to ensure secure and stable access to energy supplies from the Middle East and Central Asia." Mihailova said Bulgaria "is firmly committed to assume its share of costs of NATO membership." And she pointed out that "an improved security environment is a necessary condition for economic prosperity," and prospects for early membership will encourage foreign investment and serve as an impetus for domestic economic reforms. The Bulgarian public is "very supportive of NATO. During the long period of the Communist dictatorship, the people had been brainwashed about the role of NATO, and it was even surprising for us how supportive the people are for the idea of Bulgaria to become a member of NATO," Mihailova said. People "very much believe that for a small country like Bulgaria it is more appropriate to guarantee its own security by being part of a family rather than being patronized by any of the superpowers." Asked about Bulgaria's achievements, Mihailova cited "political stabilization." There is a strong desire for democracy, the president enjoys broad support, and the government, after one year in power, has not lost support despite a "difficult and painful" reform program, she said. "During the January and February events of last year, the people of Bulgaria understood that while reforms are painful and difficult, it would be much more painful and difficult if we don't make reforms. That's why people support the real reforms and the reformist majority in national assembly and the government and the president, and this is a very important base for the financial and economic stabilization as well," Mihailova said. NATO Assistant Secretary General Norman Ray asked about Bulgaria's cooperation with Turkey and its initiatives within the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). Bulgaria once feared "that regional cooperation would be seen as a replacement of our goal of joining NATO and the EU, but experience and the ups and downs during the last seven years of democracy gave us a very clear and very important lesson -- that before you go to the big family of European and democratic nations, you have to demonstrate ability to have good relations with your neighbors," Mihailova said. "That's why this government started a very active policy on the regional level." She noted that Bulgaria launched an initiative under EAPC that was "oriented towards security and stability in southeastern Europe," as well as "several initiatives on the level of foreign affairs ministers between Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, and between Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. After that, the presidents of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey gathered to create a declaration for joint efforts in the field of security, stability, arms control, proliferation and controlling cross border points. This was a very important step of rebuilding confidence between the countries of the Balkan peninsula." Mihailova also said that Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz recently made an official visit to Bulgaria. Turkey and Bulgaria are addressing many unresolved issues, she said; some existed "for 50 years and they were solved by the common political will of both sides. Never have the relations between Bulgaria and Turkey have been as good as they are now."