Exclusive interview of Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) with Her Excellency Elena Poptodorova, Bulgaria’s new Ambassador to the United States of America.

In August 2010, Elena Poptodorova started her second term as the Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United States of America. Her first term was in 2002-2008.

In 2009-2010, she served as the Director of the Security Policy Directorate at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in 2008-2009 – as Ambassador-at-Large for the Black Sea Region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was a Member of the Bulgarian Parliament in 1990-2001.

In 1987-1990, Poptodorova was a Minister-Counselor at the Bulgarian Embassy in Rome and Consul-General of Bulgaria to the Republic of San Marino.

You have just returned to the position of Bulgaria’s Ambassador to the USA after your first term in 2002-2008. How would you characterize the present state of the Bulgarian-American relations? If the recent statements of senior US officials – that these relations have never been better – are true, what are the goals that you have set for yourself in your new term? I.e. where is the untapped potential?

Those statements are true to fact. Once the general political framework has been set with our NATO and EU membership, and with the signing of the bilateral defense cooperation agreement which makes the two countries strategic allies, Bulgarian-US relationship can follow only an upward trend.

While my first term was basically focused on those strategic goals, now the embassy should concentrate on the “infrastructure” within the political framework.

Energy cooperation has quickly become a priority area alongside the need to amplify the entire economic and investment sector.

The political-military cooperation will move forward on all aspects of regional and international security, such as the Western Balkans, Afghanistan, anti-missile defense etc.

Where do you see the major differences in the foreign policy of the Obama Administration vs. that of the Bush Administration? In general, how is the fact that Barack Obama is in the White House affecting and going to affect Bulgaria?

The Obama team succeeded to negotiate START 2 with the Russians and opened more venues for talks with them on security matters, hopefully on conventional arms as well.

The concept of anti-missile defense was further improved and developed to include all NATO allies.

There is a special focus on the Middle East peace process taking into account the concerns of both sides.

European allies are consulted on a regular basis. Bulgaria-US relations do not rest on expediency and President Obama has a solid base to build up.

Bulgaria will continue to be appreciated as an ally and a source of regional expertise.

Upon presenting your letters of accreditation for your second term in DC, you called upon America to invest in Bulgaria’s energy sector (which would have both economic and political effects). After the recent visits to the US of the Bulgarian ministers of economy and finance, how do you see Bulgaria’s potential to attract large-scale American energy investments?

This is work in progress. Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister for energy Marii Kossev was in Washington DC this week to take part in a shale gas conference.

Obviously, this is one of the areas where more US companies show interest. Nuclear and renewable energy are also a possibility. But as I said, we are in a study mode.

Building upon that, as Bulgaria’s Economy and Energy Minister Traikov suggested, are there reasons to believe that Westinghouse or some other American energy giant would invest a new nuclear reactor in Bulgaria’s NPP Kozloduy?

NPP Kozloduy is always on the agenda, and big American companies, including Westinghouse, will definitely be interested if and when a bidding process is started.

Other than the US political support for Nabucco, do you have reasons to believe that American oil and gas companies interested in Bulgarian projects? For example, there have been reports that Chevron and Exxon Mobile would want to buy shares of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline?

I will be meeting with Chevron’s Vice-President Ian Macdonald on September 10. I will know more after the meeting.

The hopes for massive US investments in the Bulgarian economy appear to have failed to materialize with the US being ranked only eighth among the largest foreign investors in Bulgaria in 1994-2008. There have clearly been large American investments in Bulgaria but not as substantial as everybody expected after Bulgaria joined NATO, and became a staunch US ally. How do you plan to boost the interest of American investors in Bulgaria? Do you think Bulgaria can compete for US money as an outsourcing destination? If so, in which sectors – manufacturing, services? Hi-tech, IT, military industries, etc?

Investment is a two-way street. On our part, we need to put forward “irresistible” offers. They may be in any of the spheres you mention.

In my ambition I go even a step forward – why not find a product to be manufactured in Bulgaria as a final product and then marketed to third markets – and I think of the American Standard pattern in Sevlievo. It would also be good if we can identify an investment project of regional scope, which will definitely be more attractive for the big companies.

There is yet another unexplored opportunity. I keep urging the Bulgarian companies to reach out directly to the mid-states in America, and look for partners there.

The two coasts are somewhat spoiled – with all the attention they usually get. But there are smaller places which are eager to have international outreach, and this is one more opportunity for our businesses.

How important do you think is Bulgaria’s role in the global deployment of the US forces and US grand power strategy? How are both America and Bulgaria benefiting from the creation of the so called “Task Force East”? Do you think that Bulgaria (together with Romania) might in the future replace Turkey as the major US ally in the Balkans/Black Sea region?

I think that US force deployment in Europe in particular cannot be divested from NATO’s security strategy. It is part of the overall security guarantees for the allies.

Task Force-East is a US European Command initiative designed to strengthen relationships between the United States and its Eastern European allies. It focuses on enhancing partner capacity and fostering regional cooperation. It provides Romania and Bulgaria with training facilities for combined training.

Task Force-East involves a bilateral, long-term investment in both Romania and Bulgaria that strives to have also a positive economic impact in the local areas. I hope that all three countries - Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey – shall operate together as NATO members and important US allies for maintaining regional security.

Are there indications that Bulgaria might be asked to host elements of the US missile shield in Europe? Would that be the radar – if the interceptor missiles are located in Romania? Won’t that actually worsen Bulgaria’s security – by making it a target for US adversaries – i.e. Russia, Iran, international terrorist groups, etc?

Any specific talks will be held after the Lisbon NATO Summit in November, when the allies are expected to agree on the political framework document on anti-missile defense.

As to an alleged worsening of our own security, I must remind you that we are talking of a NATO – not US – anti-missile system, which provides security to 28 nations and some 900 million people.

You should know that if – God forbid! – Bulgaria is made a terrorist target now, we dispose of no means to defend our critical and sensitive cites. So we are talking of more security with the system, not less.

With the establishment of the European External Action Service, how do you expect to work with the new EU Ambassador to the US, Joao Vale de Almeida, who spoke strongly about his powers? How would the EEAS change the situation in comparison with your first mandate? Do you expect confusion or clear-cut lines between the jobs of the national ambassadors of EU member states and the EU ambassador in DC?

The new EU diplomatic arrangements are still a novelty for everybody. I think the important thing is to keep each country’s profile.

In my first term, also, the rotating EU presidency always had a very distinct and high-profile role. How would it play out now, is hard to say. It will be a complex balancing act.

I will insist on a specific discussion among us, the EU ambassadors, on the matter and I intend to be very vocal about it.

How do you evaluate the Bulgarian diaspora in the United States? It appears to have grown in size and power in the last 20 years but does not seem to be very cohesive so that its voice can lobby for Bulgarian interests the way other nations’ diasporas do.

Your assessment is correct. The first hurdle is to make a precise estimate of its size. At present it is counted at about 300 000. Regrettably, it is less cohesive than other ethnic groups.

I remember, though, that when we were lobbying for NATO membership back in 2002 through early 2004, we succeeded to bring our compatriots together in local campaigns. Those were exciting times! I wish we could repeat them for a new Bulgarian goal.

What are you expectations about when Bulgarian could be included in the US visa waiver program?

I am very cautious about any time frame about this issue. I am now thinking of a concrete game plan here, in Washington. We will work closely with other countries like Poland, Romania, Cyprus, which belong to our group.

But I think that a more large-scale EU effort is needed – for example, to request that all Schengen countries become part of the visa waiver program. I also think that Bulgaria’s own accession to Schengen will facilitate the process.

When can Bulgaria expect a visit of US President Barack Obama?

Another hard one in terms of timing. When we get closer to a date I will not fail to announce it.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!