JP\/3\/<\/p>\n
Bulgaria offers defense cooperation, but under strict
\ncontrol<\/p>\n
(This is not a direct quotation)<\/p>\n
On the sidelines of his four-day visit to Indonesia,
\ndue to be completed on Monday, Bulgarian President Georgi
\nParvanov shared his views about Bulgaria's transition from a
\ncommunist country into a democratic state and about defense
\ncooperation with Indonesia. The following is an excerpt of his
\ninterview with The Jakarta Post's Kornelius Purba and Oei Eng
\nGoan.<\/p>\n
Question: Both Bulgaria and Indonesia share some similar
\nexperience in undertaking reform, following the fall
\nof the communist regime in Bulgaria and of Soeharto here. Could
\nyou share with us your country's experience of the transition
\nperiod?<\/p>\n
Answer: There was a consensus in Bulgaria on the need to
\ncreate democratic change and to develop the country
\nas a market economy. As results of our efforts, although we
\nhave a number of difficulties, we have carried out
\na series of transitions and, as a result, we have
\nnow established a democracy with stable democratic
\ninstitutions, and a stable political situation and
\nmarket economy. First of all, the reforms will allow us
\nto complete negotiations with the European Union (EU) in
\n2004 and soon afterwards to join the EU as a full member.<\/p>\n
How about the military role there; does it remain strong
\nas has happened here?<\/p>\n
I couldn't possibly comment on the affairs of a country
\nin which I am a guest, and on such a specific, sensitive
\nissue. But I can refer to the Bulgarian experience. Bulgaria
\nundertook a serious reform of its armed forces, introducing civil
\ncontrol of the army and modernizing it, bringing it up to
\nEuropean standards.<\/p>\n
Many people in the former Soviet Union satellite
\ncountries can no longer enjoy the privileges and
\nbenefits they used to have under the Communist era.
\nWhat is your comment?<\/p>\n
It is possible, I would say, that a certain
\nproportion of the people feel some social nostalgia for the past.
\nBut it is by no means political nostalgia -- a desire to return
\nto the political system of the past, at the cost of gross human
\nrights abuse. The vast majority of people in Bulgaria realize
\nthat no way will there be a return to the system of the past.<\/p>\n
They approved the new task, which needs to be followed up, in
\nachieving a more active development of Bulgarian production and
\nbetter redistribution of social necessities, in the name of
\nsocial justice. I believe that the state should find the
\nresources to assist socially vulnerable people because that is
\nthe way for them to be properly integrated into society.<\/p>\n
Islam is a minority religion in predominantly Christian
\nBulgaria, while in Indonesia it is the other way round. As a
\nfriend of Indonesia, what suggestions can you give to
\nus with regard to protecting the minority?<\/p>\n
I am very cautious when it comes to giving
\nadvice (to a foreign country) ... on ethnic problems
\nBulgaria has indeed gone through some very difficult stages with
\nregard to ethnic issues, but now it is a success story, and it is
\nbased on a very effective model for achieving coexistence between
\nvarious ethnic and religious groups. This is a successful example
\nin Europe.<\/p>\n
This kind of coexistence is particularly evident on a day-to-
\nday basis in their everyday lives, in which Christians and
\nMuslims help each other. The best example is the way they build
\ntheir places of worship: For instance, Muslims help Christians to
\nbuild their churches, and vice versa. On the other hand,
\nfunctionally they (Muslims) are also well represented, both in
\nthe government and in parliament, and in the office of the
\npresident.<\/p>\n
Muslim parties are in the government coalition. You can find
\nthem everywhere within the government and in key positions. In my
\nown delegation there is a Bulgarian mosque mufti, and the
\nminister of agriculture is also a Muslim.<\/p>\n
Will the inclusion of Bulgaria into the EU benefit
\nall?<\/p>\n
Bulgaria has gone a long way toward integration with the EU.
\nWe
\nhave consistently been successful in meeting EU requirements, the
\npolitical criteria, for the democratization of political life,
\nand certain requirements for the judicial system. The great
\ndifficulty, however, the great obstacle, as you
\nsaid, lies within the economic arena, in adapting the Bulgarian
\neconomy to the requirements of the EU.<\/p>\n
But here too, we have made progress with some of the economic
\nchapters already. We are currently in the final stages of
\nharmonizing our legislation to that of the EU, which is indeed
\nno small task.<\/p>\n
In 1998, Soeharto failed to follow Bulgaria's policy,
\nwhich pegs its Leva -- is that correct? currency to the U.S.
\ndollar. What are the merits and demerits of the currency board
\npolicy?<\/p>\n
The currency board proved to be very effective, if implemented
\na little bit too late. The introduction of the currency board
\narrangement involved pegging to the German mark. It has brought
\nabout a stabilization, both in the country and in a major
\nindicator, such as a steady, low inflation rate.<\/p>\n
By and large, all macroeconomic indicators have
\nbeen stable and sustainable; the growth rate has been capped at 5
\npercent for several years now, and investment has been relatively
\ngood, considering the international economic downturn and
\ndifficulties in the world economy. In other words, the economic
\nindicators are good enough to attract and guarantee foreign
\ninvestment
\nin Bulgaria.<\/p>\n
What results, including with the defense field, did you
\nachieve from your meeting with President Megawati?<\/p>\n
I will begin by the joint declaration, which sets out the
\npolitical framework for our bilateral relations in years to come.
\nThe agreement signed on the promotion of trade and investment is
\nparticularly crucial for promoting trade and encouraging
\ninvestment.<\/p>\n
Bulgaria came up with some specific offers, such as in the
\nfield of energy production, where Bulgaria has experience. But we
\nalso have serious problems in this area. You have rich coal
\nreserves that could be used for our power generation.
\nThe other areas that were discussed were agriculture and the food
\nindustry.<\/p>\n
And why not defense? However, I would like to emphasize here
\nthat whatever we do in this area should be under very strict
\ncontrol, in compliance with the very strict controls on arms and
\ntrading in arms for due use, for due purposes.
\ndue<\/p>",
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