Distinguished Ladies and Gentleman,

Our approach towards the strategic environment of South-eastern Europe is based on the estimation that, at the present stage, no direct threats exist to the national security of Bulgaria. however, we take the view that there are some risk-generating factors that, in certain circumstances, might evolve into direct threats to our national security.

There are two different groups of factors that Bulgaria has to be ready to counter.

The first one is comprised of factors which, once transformed into threats, would require counteraction by conventional armed forces missions. Such missions would be aimed at the preventing or countering of a possible aggression and opposing the involvement of the country in regional conflicts of different scale and intensity, etc. The basic source of such risks is the conflict potential on the territory of former Yugoslavia and the so far unsolved ethnic and religious contradictions in particular. The basic risk for Bulgaria stems from the possibility for spillover of the conflicts beyond the territory in question. We regard the possible consequences of mass refugee influxes, originating from the regions of former Yugoslavia and the danger of a humanitarian catastrophe they might bring about, as containing a high risk potential for Bulgaria. The possible internal political and economic collapse of certain states, including disintegration of the state system, might also have a negative impact on our country.

The second group of factors is comprised of the so-called "new risks" and challenges, among which, I would like to mention:

- the political dimensions of organized crime which might lead to the destabilization of certain states;

- the spreading and illegal trafficking of weapons of mass destruction or their components, as well as conventional weapons;

- the threat of spreading of dual-usage technologies and the increasing access to them.

In order to neutralize potential threats, resulting from these risks, the armed forces have to be involved under certain circumstances. To accomplish these new missions, they have to be ready to participate in diverse types of peacekeeping operations outside the territory of Bulgaria or in humanitarian operations either on or outside Bulgarian territory.

We regard the challenges outside the framework of our regional environment as connected to the increasingly more palpable formation of powerful political and economic centres, formed by a cluster of leading states and a periphery. The region of South-eastern Europe and Bulgaria in particular, is faces with the challenge of becoming an integral part of the European centre and avoiding the risk of remaining on the periphery. Therefore, we are striving after the stabilization of the region and the accelerated integration of the sustainable development countries of South-eastern European Union, while at the same time keeping in mind the perspective of integrating the region into these institutions in its entirety.

Bulgaria has succeeded in establishing and strengthening its national security by adhering to the "security through integration" principle. Integration priorities play a dominant role in the Programme 2001 of the Government - it should be pointed out that in the last couple of years our country managed to consistently apply this policy. NATO membership, the accession to the European Union, which has significantly greater implications than its mere economic dimension, and - quite naturally - the future accession to the Western European Union, are of fundamental importance as guarantees of our national security.

The forthcoming in April Washington Summit of state and government leaders of NATO member states is undoubtedly going to be of outstanding importance in terms of the NATO integration process. We approach this forum with pragmatic realism and well-grounded optimism. Our expectations are clear-cut and definite.

In the last two years, the will on the part of Bulgaria to accede to the Alliance was reflected in significant progress concerning the meeting of key membership requirements. Here, I would like to emphasize the internal political and economic stability, the ensuing possibility for long term planning in the area of security, the implementation of constructive regional policy, and the accelerated reform of the military. We therefore expect, at the Washington summit, to win explicit recognition of Bulgaria's achievements on its way to alliance accession.

Our willingness for membership is backed up by Bulgaria’s potential to make a real contribution to the overall security of the Alliance. We regard both NATO's states members and the serious states candidates for membership as our present partners and future allies. At the same time, Bulgaria does not conceive of any state either belonging to South-eastern Europe or not, as a potential opponent. The establishment of the Multinational Peace Force in South-eastern Europe is an example of the expanding co-operation between NATO member states and their partners from South-eastern Europe. We would highly appreciate to have it pointed out, in the final documents of the Washington Summit, the significance of such co-operation, particularly as a powerful factor of accelerated membership.

It is our understanding that the Alliance should initiate a qualitatively new type of partnership with serious membership candidates such as Bulgaria. We also expect a Membership Action Plan to be drawn up in order to channel the co-operation with NATO with the candidate states into an accelerated accession process by drawing a clear line between states candidates with immediate accession perspectives and the rest of the participants in the Euroatlantic Partnership Council and Partnership for Peace.

The interconnection between the integration and regional aspects will continue to play a decisive role in Bulgarian foreign policy.

Our initiatives and active position with regard to Kosovo, which not only illustrate the new spirit of relations between the countries of the region, but at the same time constitute a clear-cut and unanimously recognized contribution to the efforts of international community to break the ground for concentrated activities in order to regulate the crisis, have been a manifestation of this approach and an active position on the Kosovo conflict.

Bulgarian foreign policy is faced with an extremely important task - of co-operating in the event of deployment of NATO troops in Kosovo - in order to guarantee a peaceful settlement and fully assist the accomplishment of the mission. It is a well-known fact that, by virtue of this mission, NATO is getting directly involved in the process of strengthening security in South-eastern Europe while at the same time contributing to the diminishing of risks, resulting from the Kosovo conflict for our country among others. Assisting NATO's efforts in Kosovo is presently the most important touchstone and criterion of the maturity of our efforts for Alliance membership.

On the basis of Bulgaria's principled position on the Kosovo crisis expressed last October by the Parliament, President and Government and in consistence with the country's Constitution and laws. the following possible forms for interaction with NATO are under preparation:

- In response to the invitation by the NATO Council and on the basis of a decision of the Government Bulgaria has confirmed its intention to participate with non-combat units in the NATO-led operation in Kosovo "Joint Guardian". A specific offer has been made by the Bulgarian Government for the provision of a Construction Support Company.

- In the event of such a NATO-led ground operation Bulgaria will offer the necessary logistic support, including conditions for transit through the territory of the country. To this end an agreement is under preparation between Bulgaria and NATO for transit of NATO personnel and equipment within the operation " Joint Guardian "

In a nutshell, Bulgaria has been a generator of stability and security; our country has not been part of the problems, but a stimulant to their solution, and has accordingly won recognition for its capacity of translating the Euroatlantic community strategy for South-eastern Europe into the language of the region.

Without going into the details of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and each of the countries of the region, I would just like to point out that our country has not been involved in any problems which might present any conflict potential with its neighbours. In this connection, I feel obliged to emphasize the decisive breakthrough in relations with the Republic of Macedonia, which became official with the signing of the bilateral Declaration. This new beginning in Bulgarian-Macedonian relations will undoubtedly contribute further to political stability in the region.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hope that, this brief overview proves that the challenges Bulgaria and its foreign policy are facing are complicated, but soluble, that our goals are difficult, but attainable. Our country is determined to make the most of all the possibilities for transformation of the entire region of South-eastern Europe into a homogeneous part of Euroatlantic democracy.

Our approach is in harmony with the essence of what NATO's Secretary General Mr. Solana call "Partnership for Prosperity" in South - eastern Europe - to put all parts of Balkans on the path towards regaining their rightful place in Europe, in political as well as in economical sense.

Thank you for your attention.

Address by Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Nadezhda
Mihailova to the Presidential "Rose Roth" Seminar (NATO Parliamentary Assembly)
11 March 1999.