During the Greek EU Presidency Bulgaria marked a significant progress in the negotiation process
H.E. Mr. Stefan Stoyanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Greece

Ambassador Stoyanov was born in 1954. He finished the English High School in Sofia, and graduated in Mathematics with honors at the University of Sofia. He has a doctor’s degree in Mathematics. He graduated in Economics from New Bulgarian University. Assistant professor at the University of National and World Economy, Department of Mathematics. Deputy in the 7th Bulgarian Grand National Assembly.

Owner and manager of several Bulgarian commercial companies.

Since 2002 he is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Hellenic Republic. Founding member of the Rotary Club Sofia. Chairman of the Free Initiative Foundation.

Ambassador Stoyanov speaks English, Greek, Russian, German and Bulgarian. Married, one daughter.

Your Excellency, Greece is a friendly, neighbouring country, with which we share a common history, but far more importantly we also share a common European future. During the recent years the two countries have been boasting a very good level of cooperation in the political, the economic and the cultural spheres.
Greece rendered Bulgaria very active support in the attainment of key priorities in our foreign policy, namely our membership in the EU and NATO. The country has a consistent interest in the European orientation of all countries from the region, which coincides with our goals.

Our southern neighbour is a democratic European country, whose geographical isolation from the rest of the European Union, however, does not contribute to its accelerated development. The lack of stability and the economic problems of the region pose certain limitations, while the stability and the prosperity of the other South East European countries exercise an enormous positive effect on the Greek economy.

There is a regular exchange of meetings and high-level visits between Bulgaria and Greece. The two countries have regular contacts on ministerial and expert level, which are effected between nearly all of their ministries.

The results in the field of economy are impressive. Last year Bulgaria's trade exchange with Greece amounted to about EUR 1.5 billion. Greece is investor number one in Bulgaria. The value of the Greek investments, including those through third countries, totals over EUR 2 billion. The investments in the financial sector, the telecommunications, and the steel industry are impressive. The number of Greek tourists, who visited our country last year, exceeds 707,000. This marks a growth of nearly 30% as compared to the previous year and puts Greece in top position.

Our cultural exchange is so intense that the Embassy often lacks the resource to attend all events. The archives show the situation was quite different only a few decades ago. At that time almost the entire staff of the mission worked for months for the realization of a single cultural event. Today 200,000 Bulgarian immigrants live in Greece, six newspapers are published, there are radio shows in Bulgarian and the Bulgarian central dailies are circulated over a significant part of the country's territory. Besides the numerous visits of art people from Bulgaria to Greece, there are also Bulgarian artists, who have settled permanently in Greece, and who take an active part in the cultural life of the country.

The military co-operation and the collaboration between the two countries’ law-enforcing institutions are at a very good level as well. Things, which were deemed impossible in the past, today have become our daily routine. Bulgarian nationals are trained in Greek military schools and in the missions of the two countries work the so-called “police attachÎs”. Thanks to all this, today our opportunities for curbing trans-border organized crime are greater than ever before.

Which spheres of co-operation need further enhancement?
The thousands of Bulgarian nationals, working on the territory of Greece, are looking forward to actions, which would improve their position on the labor market. I believe that their equal participation is in the interest of our two states and will help enhance the competitiveness of the local economy. There is a range of steps, which are expected. The most important one is the signing of a bilateral social security agreement. At the moment, our compatriots, working in Greece, are putting millions of euros in the Greek pension funds without having the opportunity to utilize them.

The fact that Greece does not recognize the Bulgarian driving licenses of our compatriots, who are permanently staying in its territory, is yet another important issue. The immigrants are forced to pay up to EUR 3500 for driving lessons and have to pass a Greek language exam in order to receive a Greek driving license. I hope that within the shortest possible terms the reciprocity principle will be applied here, since Bulgaria acknowledges the Greek driving licenses on its territory. These issues might seem outside the scope of our excellent relations and our common European future, but they are important since they affect the life of thousands of people and their families. What is more, these people have the uneasy fate of immigrants.

The infrastructure links between the two countries are insufficient. In 1995 a bilateral agreement was signed, stipulating the opening of three new border-crossings by 1998. So far none of these has been opened.

What is the role of the Embassy in promoting Bulgaria in Greece? What are your personal initiatives for enhancing the ties between the two countries?
The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Greece traditionally boasts an intensive activity aimed at ensuring Bulgaria's interests and enhancing bilateral co-operation. There are 20 diplomats with exceptionally high qualifications and knowledge of the country, who work in the Embassy. I would point out they are all fluent in Greek and this provides excellent opportunities for communication.

Due to a number of circumstances (the priority significance which Bulgaria attaches to its relations with Greece, the historical facts, and the fact Greece is the only EU member in the region) our activities are so intense that they can hardy be exhausted in one or in several interviews. Almost all Bulgarian ministries, institutions, and services maintain intensive contacts with their Greek counterparts. The same applies to a number of educational establishments, institutes and NGOs. Most of these contacts are realized either directly or indirectly through the Embassy. Sometimes the preparation of a one-day visit may take up several months. The best promotion of our country lies namely in the quality assurance process for the work of the various institutions.

Without getting into further details, I will only mention that during the last couple of years we witnessed a number of significant events – Greece chaired the European Union for a span of six months during which Bulgaria marked a significant progress in its negotiations. Athens was the venue where the Treaty of Accession with the ten newly-acceded EU members was signed. Last year it hosted the Olympics and the Para Olympic games. Official visits of the highest level were exchanged. In all these events, the role of the Embassy was aimed at establishing the image of our country.

As Ambassador I deliver lectures, give interviews. There is another forthcoming lecture in the Military Academy. However, I am firmly convinced this comes in a second place. The quality of the work done in pursuing the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria, in maintaining the bilateral relations, the consular servicing of citizens, etc., should occupy a priority place. Lately we are witnessing a shift in the accents. Sometimes it is easier to make a positive statement in the media, while whether our work is done or whether it is done properly, remains in the background. This is a globalizing tendency. As a result of study, the American media published the list of the top five Hollywood actors in terms of their work – number of participations in productions and the size of their fees. A separate list showed the first five in terms of interviews given. It turned out that none of those who give the most interviews was listed with those who work most.

Of course, I have my own personal initiatives for enhancing the relations between the two countries. But the success of each initiative depends on the synergies of many people. I would like to extend special gratitude to the staff of the mission, who are working diligently in the difficult area of diplomacy. It will not be objective to give an assessment of my work.

Geographically Greece is close to Bulgaria. It is a friendly country, however, we should bear in mind it has a different history, culture, and a state-building tradition. These differences are sometimes so wide, that even one and the same word may have different connotations in the two countries – for example, the use of the name Republic of Macedonia is viewed as a threat to the national security here. The NATO acronym also brings forth different social interpretations – it is a little known fact, for example, that Greece has antipersonnel mine fields on the border with another NATO country. As for the state-building, I think it is enough to mention that the role of Jesus Christ is defined in the Greek Constitution. Knowing how these issues are settled in Bulgaria, one can get an idea of the complexity of diplomatic work. The role of diplomacy lies in finding common solutions for the attainment of positive goals despite the existing differences.

How do you and your family feel in Greece? What do you do in your free time? Do you have a hobby, favourite places?
I have good friends from various walks of life here and my contacts with them go back more than 20 years. I have visited Greece as a scientist and a lecturer, and as a businessman and trade partner later on. After a certain time I will be a former ambassador but my friends in Greece and the warm feelings will remain.

Now I have the high honour of serving my country as its ambassador. Whether I like it or not, I feel this responsibility everywhere. Even on the beach I cannot enjoy nature the way I used to. I always have the awareness I am at work.

I am an avid sportsman and I have various interests in the field of computers, digital photography, philosophy, history and economy. But I think these personal things are not worthy of the attention of your readers.

There are so many beautiful places in Greece that it is often difficult to make a choice. Greece is a wonderful country and I would advise everyone, who has not been here to visit it. As to those who have already done so, I would tell them to come back again. The country offers an enormous diversity, which is rarely found within the borders of a single country. Before leaving Greece, one of my colleagues, a European country ambassador, told me he and his wife used to visit a different tourist destination every weekend. They wanted to see everything. At the end of his four-year mandate, however, there were still so many unvisited places. He said they will come again. I think this is the destiny of all who have ever got in touch with Greece.

Juliana Tomova