I am happy for Bulgaria in Europe

Mr. Ingo-Endrick Lankau, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Frankfurt

Mr. Ingo-Endrick Lankau, Honorary Consul of our country in the Federal Republic of Germany with a seat in Frankfurt am Main and consular district Hessen, visited Bulgaria in early October. Having a long experience as judge, notary and lawyer, Mr. Lankau had meetings with high Bulgarian magistrates to consult them on the judiciary reform.

Mr. Lankau, what is your role as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Frankfurt?
I have been appointed by the government of Bulgaria to promote the interests of Bulgarian companies in the Hessen province and in Germany as a whole, as well as of Hessen companies in Bulgaria, and to work for the enhancement of the economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

What parameters does this appointment have?
Interstate relations are regulated by the actions of the diplomats, who take care of their stimulation. Many countries assign honorary consuls in certain regions, where there are no state diplomatic representations. The appointment of consuls and opening of consulates is settled by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The assignor country decides whether to assign an official diplomat, consul general, to this region or an honorary consul.

Legally the consuls general and the honorary consuls do not differ. Usually, the assignor country chooses a citizen of the recipient country – someone with a particular social status, who has good economic and political connections and thereby can guarantee their improvement. Frankfurt is known as a European financial center and it is in the interest of the assignor country its representative there to be well integrated in this scene.

Please tell us, what is your connection with Bulgaria and how did you become a honorary consul?
I am a lawyer, I have a lawyer’s firm and a notary’s office. Through the years my firm did services for Bulgarian companies and thus our contacts with Bulgaria enhanced. I took an increasing interest in your country, and the liking – it comes from the heart not as a duty, so I accepted the position heartily.

I appreciate the Bulgarians as very kind and buoyant people. I admire their optimism – compared with the Germans. I know Bulgaria well and I am familiar with the realities in the country. This is exactly why I am astonished at the way the Bulgarians cope with this reality and at their great trust to the future. I am also delighted with the high intellectual and language competence of the Bulgarian students in Germany.

Your concrete ideas about the relations between Bulgaria and Germany?
Historically the relations between our two countries after the Liberation from Ottoman domination have been wonderful. There are German schools in Bulgaria – the high school in Ruse is over 100 years old, and this is a good basis.

Germany is among your strongest economic partners, and my chief goal is to make Bulgaria even more popular in the province of Hessen. Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg have strong positions in your country, while Hessen, which I must say is economically the third most powerful province in Germany, is still doing very poorly. So, my short-term and long-term aim is the improvement of the relations between the province of Hessen and Bulgaria.

Recently when Bulgaria needed aid after the natural disasters, we procured 40 communication systems for the fire-brigades, which with the assistance of Bulgaria Air were placed at the disposal of Gen. Voinov within only a week.

In the first half of 2006, we will consult and accompany a delegation of the Hessen Minister of Economy on its visit to your country.

We would be interested to know what is the attitude in Germany towards the Bulgarian membership in EU, of the state institutions and of the ordinary people.
This issue has many levels. And it concerns my primary task as consul – to work for Bulgaria in the province of Hessen. The basic and most substantial problem is that many Germans do not know your country. Last year when the Bulgarian Ambassador Mrs. Miglena Plugchieva assumed office, she pointed out that we, the consuls, who represent Bulgaria must strive to make it more popular in Germany. We still have to go a long way, but quite a few companies already know about Bulgaria. We are making efforts to bring the positive conditions for investment to the awareness not only of the big business but especially the medium business. In Bulgaria the financial and economic areas are very disciplined and the Bulgarian government has rolled up its sleeves to pass new laws, to get well prepared for joining EU.

At top level, the opinions on the issue of Bulgaria in the EU are divided. In German politics there is one strong current, who say: “We don’t know if all these laws that are passed will be applied.” The other side say: “Bulgaria pertains to Europe. The last ten countries that acceded EU had not fulfilled optimally the accession terms too.” Personally I believe the second opinion will prevail. There will be clashes indeed, but Bulgaria should really enforce these laws. I also think in EU many of the members will support Bulgaria.

What would you like to share with the readers of Bulgarian Diplomatic Review?
I would be very happy if alongside the encouragement of the economic and political relations between the two countries greater attention is given to culture and the social sphere. Round the world there are not only famous Bulgarian football players but also conductors, singers and musicians, prominent art people. We should try and help Bulgaria also along this line. It is pleasant, too! I will tell you a secret: we are preparing a cultural event in Frankfurt for the day of Bulgaria’s accession to EU.

In conclusion, I am happy for Bulgaria in Europe.