PRESS CONFERENCE BY BULGARIA

29 May 1997

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY BULGARIA

19970529 FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY

The new Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the United Nations, Philip Dimitrov, yesterday afternoon said that his country's desire to participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was a very important anchor for the democratic process in that country. Speaking at a press conference at Headquarters, he said his Government had recently formulated a clear position on participation in NATO and hoped for faster progress on the matter.

Prior to the recent political changes in Bulgaria, there had been attempts, in institutions controlled by the former Communist Party, to slow down the dialogue on NATO, Mr. Dimitrov said. However, subsequent acceptance of the idea in the country was expected to contribute to more rapid progress towards participation in the organization.

Bulgaria was now emerging from a difficult and confused period in which its people had experienced the hardships and ambiguities of transition, Mr. Dimitrov went on to say. There was visible proof that Bulgarians had chosen reforms, participation in NATO and the European Union, and the principles of democracy and a free market economy. Those choices were evident in the presidential election of 1996 and the parliamentary elections of 1997. Prior to that, Bulgaria had experienced the historical misfortune of being invaded and subjected to totalitarianism.

Mr. Dimitrov said his country had gained a reputation as being "the island of stability in the volcanic surroundings of the Balkans". Proof of that was seen in the major changes taking place in its politics, under a Constitution that guaranteed its future and would exert a positive effect on the region's stability.

Bulgaria had also been participating in United Nations peace-keeping operations, Mr. Dimitrov said. Bulgarians had served with the peace-keeping forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina and were currently participating in the civilian police forces and as military observers. They had also served as electoral observers in Angola, Tajikistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. His Government was also determined to actively be engaged in the Organization's reform process. Reform was an ambitious but necessary task which would help improve the structure and work of the United Nations in the interest of peace, democracy and a brighter future for people all over the world.

Asked about his predecessor, Bulgaria's former Permanent Representative Slavi Zhekov Pashovski, "who had resisted leaving the United Nations", Mr.

Dimitrov said Mr. Pashovski had been appointed in 1992 and was determined to pursue the foreign policy which had emerged from a national consensus on democratic reforms. However, during the period when the former Communist Party returned to power, he faced difficulties in trying to act according to that consensus, while being pressured by a government that formally supported the consensus but deviated from it in practice.

It was an unpleasant historical experience which, hopefully, would not be repeated, Mr. Dimitrov said. Countries emerging from totalitarianism had to undergo certain experiences which would teach those who governed them that rules had to be obeyed and principles had to be followed. That was not a typical feature of communist rule anywhere in the world. Asked where Mr. Pashovski was now, Mr. Dimitrov said he was still in the United States, because of family reasons, but would be returning to Sofia soon.

What effect had the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina had on his country? a correspondent asked. Did he foresee similar problems arising in Bulgaria as a result of its ethnic divisions? Mr. Dimitrov said Bulgaria could be viewed as an example of how reasonable and democratic solutions to ethnic problems had been developed. The main minority, which was of Turkish descent, had been persecuted between 1984 and 1989, under the communist regime. That had resulted in the emergence of the democratic opposition. Human rights concerns and the restoration of all rights, including property rights, had been among the planks of democratic parties and institutions in recent years. Tensions had been reduced, and there was tolerance among the ethnic groups.

The gypsy ethnic group was considerably smaller than the Turkish group and occasionally faced some problems, Mr. Dimitrov added. The aim was to enable all groups to participate fully in the country's institutions. Both Turkish and gypsy representatives were in the parliamentary group of the Union of Parliamentary Forces -- the political party which currently held the majority of seats in Parliament. There was no risk of clashes or conflicts among the ethnic groups in his country.

Asked about the effects of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Bulgaria, Mr. Dimitrov said it had been a difficult experience. The sanctions which came as a result of that war were a big problem for Bulgaria, adversely affecting trade with its neighbours.

What kind of trade and other relations did Bulgaria have with its neighbours? a correspondent asked. Mr. Dimitrov said an objective of Bulgaria's foreign policy was to maintain balanced and friendly relations with its southern neighbours, Greece and Turkey. Such relations were important in the context of the international relations in the Balkans. "I am proud to say that it was my Government that immediately recognized Macedonia, with the deep conviction that the recognition is the way to avoid any rebirth of historical ghosts that someone may expect to be haunting the Balkans", he said. To the north, relations with Romania were close.

Bulgaria Press Conference - 3 - 29 May 1997

The embargo against Serbia had been a serious challenge for relations between the two countries, Mr. Dimitrov said. His Government had been deeply convinced that there were principles which were far more important than the desire for friendly relations with one's neighbours. Those included democracy and submission to the principles of the civilized world, as conceived by international organizations like the United Nations and the entire family of civilized nations. It was on that basis that Bulgaria had accepted and adhered to the embargo.

Asked whether he shared the general expectation in the subregion that, in the absence of justice for the war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, another war would erupt, Mr. Dimitrov said he would not dare to make predictions as to whether there would be another war in that country or elsewhere in the Balkans.

Stressing that wars were usually waged by totalitarian regimes, Mr. Dimitrov went on to say that support for such regimes or for authoritarianism in countries in the Balkans would endanger regional peace. There were countries in the Balkans where stability had been maintained and could continue. What was needed was peace and fruitful relations among all countries of the region.

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