Combination of optimum between rationality and utility will de discovery by big potentiality at new generation of young bulgarians

His Excellency Mr. Iliyan Vassilev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Russian Federation

Iliyan Vassilev was born on July 7, 1956. He graduated the English Language High School in Sofia and in International Relations from the University of National and World Economy.

He is fluent in English and Russian.

His professional career has several stages. 1981–1990, collaborator at the International Department of the Bulgarian Agrarian Union. 1990-1994, resident manager, consultant in international construction and development on J. Jones and Co. and representative of the company in Bulgaria. 1994–1997, Executive Director of Home Service Ltd.; 1994–1997, Executive Director of the Bulgarian International Economic Association. 1997, Chairman of the Agency for Foreign Investments. Since February 2000, he is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Russian Federation.

He is married, with two children.

You are the head of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission to Moscow at a rather complicated point: Bulgaria has become a NATO member and seeks a full EU membership. How does that affect the Bulgarian-Russian relations on different levels: between the two states in terms of official policy, between the two nations and the relations people-to-people and in terms of economic cooperation?
Professional challenges are important in each profession and the current period in the Bulgarian-Russian relations reflects the exceptionally great dynamics in the system of international relations, which calls for flexibility of reaction and adaptability of political technologies. Each transition, i.e. each change on a social and personal level requires sound ideological and political pillars to transcend what is historically significant through the trepidations of everyday life. For us, the EU and NATO are undoubtedly such focal points, which gives us a new freedom and perspective to our relations with new Russia.

Bulgaria is neither alone, nor unique in its change. It doesn’t necessarily mean there are no nuances in the way the changes in the different Easteuropean countries were received in Russia. There is actually no great drama in bilateral terms as a result of Russia’s specific perceptions on NATO and EU enlargement. These events were anticipated, logical and rational.

There is great interest on the subject among the Russian society in terms of the place and role of Russia in the global and regional integration processes. This tendency is evident, though not always so well-expressed as we would wish. At this moment, Moscow, and Russia for that matter, are asking themselves the question of the chosen path of development. As it was very well put by one of the leading Russian foreign policy experts, we took it for granted that Russia cannot be a part of the EU and NATO. To use the definition of the President of the European Commission Mr. Romano Prodi that the EU is a union of national minorities, it seems the greatest problem of the Russian transition is to realize the “minority status” of each state in the global world.

With relative calm we went through the “disturbing” moments of introducing a visa regime and assuming the new responsibilities of NATO and EU membership. One look at the political calendar of recent years will show a high regularity and substance of visits at the level of presidents, prime ministers and foreign policy ministers, which allowed us to get rid of the historic burden and go to a new constructivity in our bilateral relations. The rhythm of cultural cooperation has been restored, and what is particularly pleasing – of the regional contacts as well. The logic of changes in the two countries suggests that the most dynamic bilateral contacts should be on a level not mediated by the central power, which would reveal the potential of the new economic and social subjects of development – the private business and the local self government.

I am sure that in this respect our EU and NATO membership will make the political, social and business dialogue between our two countries much more substantial and meaningful.

What are your personal efforts to make the presence of Bulgaria in Russia more prominent – in terms of cultural cooperation, economic partnership and tourism?
Naturally, our greatest efforts are directed towards the building of the new infrastructure of our relations, particularly in the aspects of paramount importance for their good balance and growth potential from the point of view of Bulgarian presence – economic, cultural, and in terms of tourism, human contacts, etc. Finding the optimum combination between rationality and utility goes through “sensing” and “depicting” the changes in Russia and analyzing the risks and possibilities, which are opening to that effect for the new generations of Bulgarians.

My main goal is to find the optimum way to combine the country’s resources with the entrepreneurship of private business and the non-government sector within the public and private strategies for development, the relations with Russia included. Unfortunately, it is too often that we give up on the realization of one or other goal, especially in the field of cultural cooperation, before we know how much we are short of and how we can compensate the modest possibilities for a direct participation of the state. What is pleasing is that an increasing number of Bulgarians are gaining the confidence and audacity to make a way to the Russian audiences for themselves. There is still a long way to the temple but we are on the right track. It is not much different in the sphere of economic and commercial relations, where the optimum combination of public and private interests is still a wishful thinking. I know there are sceptics in Bulgaria as far as the benefit of the Russian market and the Russian-related regional market is concerned. Indeed, the economic and non-economic risks are not to be overlooked, nor is the legal, banking, financial and administrative infrastructure, which cannot compete with the EU.

There are however three reasons at least why Russia will continue to be a considerable and perspective commercial and economic partner to any Easteuropean country. By the way, this is not a theory but a fact, which the statistics on the dynamics of these relations of the new EU members verifies – an average annual growth of over 20%.

The main reason is that the export plays a considerable role in Bulgaria’s economic growth, and for that reason it has to be directed to the growth zones in the world trade and development. Data show that Russia, along with China and North America, will continue to be one of the most dynamically developing markets for import of goods and services, which suits the structure of Bulgarian export. The size of the market is not of particular importance if its export-import structure does not correspond to the profile of the Bulgarian economy.

As the data on inter-regional trade within the post-enlargement EU show, the new member countries, with small exceptions, exceed the EU average percentage of orientation of their export flows. In addition to the prognosis indicating modest rates of economic growth within the Eurozone and a similar import structure of the Easteuropean countries, it is not very difficult to conclude that the Euro-orientation of Bulgarian export has its optimum limits. This does not necessarily imply exclusivity or special attention to the Russian market but an equal attitude, as a minimum, to the possibilities it offers.

What are the unsettled issues between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Russian Federation – in spiritual and moral aspects and on a geopolitical scale or are they merely concerning economic and everyday life?
There are no issues, which put a barrier to our relations, as there is enough political will, strong historic tradition and perspective, and most of all there are political mechanisms and technologies, which allow for the solution of a considerable part of current issues before they reach political level. In fact, the greatest problem are still the unused opportunities.

It will be of great importance for us for the future to be able to formulate a positive and competitive agenda and expand competition and informativeness, as well as the zones of mutual interest, usefulness and understanding. There are opinions that the EU and NATO membership of the Easteuropean countries will bring about a discrepancy in the value systems on a social and personal level and in the concept of democratic development, rights and freedoms, principles and rules. The problem actually lies in the lack of sufficient systematic communication between the new dynamic factors in the development of our countries. We still rely on the infrastructure of bilateral relations inherited by the socialism, not forgetting the momentum and outdated ways of thinking. We must not be deluded – there are people and structures, who at one point or another have tried to monopolize the Bulgarian-Russian relations, channeling them into the direction and dynamics, which best served their interests.

Little notice was taken of one moment of the talks President Putin had during his visit to Bulgaria. The two sides clearly stated there was no room for go-betweens in the relations of the two countries and their people. And in time we will become certain of that.

Which are in your opinion the most urgent issues of the cooperation and partnership between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Russian Federation?
Life often interferes with our agenda. That is why it is important to guide line our actions not along specific events but along sustainable processes and tendencies.

As in any other sphere of human relations, we must measure what has been achieved in terms of efficiency and competition with what other countries have achieved in their relations with Russia, as well as with our achievements in the contacts with other leading partners. Most often the key is not in the revolutionary changes or radical steps, as it is in getting rid of the limitations in our perceptions and way of thinking.

We have a tight schedule until the end of this year, which celebrates 125th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between our two countries. The highlights of this schedule are President Parvanov’s official visit to Russia and the visits of the Prime Minister Fradkov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Lavrov to Bulgaria. There is a forthcoming session of the intergovernmental committee on scientific, technical, economic and commercial cooperation. I hope we would witness many initiatives in the sphere of culture and contacts between the regions and the non-governmental organizations.

In our bilateral relations with Russia there are no issues requiring an urgent solution. This makes it easier to avoid the risk of premature actions. Any issue from the agenda of the bilateral dialogue gets an adequate solution after careful examination and consideration, which makes it possible to best take into consideration the interests of each of the partners.

We have achieved systematics and intensity of our contacts. I hope to raise their practical efficiency too.