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Bulgaria bullish on expanding ties with India

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, DEC. 2. The Ambassador of Bulgaria to India, Dragovest Goranov, today ascribed the decline in trade and cultural relations between the two countries in the last two decades to the major reforms in administrative and economic structure with which Bulgaria was preoccupied during the period. The ties would expand in future with Bulgaria achieving a stable economy, he said.

India and Bulgaria are completing 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations this month and the occasion is being commemorated with year-long golden jubilee celebrations. Mr. Goranov, accompanied by the first Bulgarian Ambassador to India, Ljubomir Dimitrov Popov, visited Jaipur today as part of the celebrations.

Mr. Goranov, in an interaction with mediapersons at the Pink City Press Club here, said the bilateral trade between the two countries during 1980's - ranging from 200 to 250 million U.S. dollars - was based on dollar evaluation and trade balance. "That was the time when the Government had total control of economy in Bulgaria and all production units were Government-owned," he said.

Following the reforms introduced in 1989, the governance model and economic patterns changed and Bulgaria could not compete with other countries in technology and production. "We were too preoccupied at the home front to think of expanding trade and cultural ties with the far-off countries such as India and China," said Mr. Goranov.

The Bulgarian envoy pointed out that the economy in his country, during the past couple of years, had stabilised at the level of mid-80's and reached almost the same stage of output. He said Bulgaria's trade with India now stood between 30 and 35 million U.S. dollars and its volume in various sectors would increase in future with the Government restricting its ownership to only 20 per cent of the enterprises.

Mr. Goranov emphasised that Bulgaria had opted for the democratic form of Government and shared the egalitarian values, respect for human rights, rule of law and dignity of individual with India. Bulgaria had supported India's claim to permanent seat in the Security Council, he added.

He said Bulgaria had completed all formalities for joining the European Union and would become its member within the next two years following ratification by the Parliaments of the member countries. Bulgaria is also promoting the role of non-Government organisations in improving relations with India and other countries.

Mr. Popov, recollecting the memories of his tenure in India during 1958 to 1963, said the diplomatic relations between the two countries had been established on a firm footing with India pursuing non-alignment and Panchseel policies. He said besides the official ties, a large number of agreements had been signed by various Chambers of Commerce as well.

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