08 août 2007
US's Visa Waiver Program and Bulgaria
Statement by Chargé d'Affaires Alexander Karagiannis
on Bulgaria and the Visa Waiver Program
President Bush on August 3, 2007 signed the "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007" into law. Among the provisions of the law, it modernizes the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) - incorporating additional security measures and allowing greater flexibility to bring close allies such as Bulgaria into the program.
The new law allows for limited flexibility for membership inclusion. Under the new law, countries with visa refusal rates of not more than 10 percent in the previous year can be considered for the program. (Bulgaria currently has a tourist refusal rate of about 17 percent.) Candidate countries must also show a sustained reduction in the number of people who stay or work illegally in the United States. The law also significantly enhances VWP security requirements, including enhanced information sharing, document security, and airport security standards, all designed to improve cooperation against terrorism and increase international border security. The law requires improvements in the U.S. border security screening system, including establishment of an electronic travel authorization system and a system to verify visitors' exits from the United States. Under the new law, these systems must be in place before new countries enter the VWP.
Thanks to this new law. Bulgaria is closer to the day when Bulgarians can travel without visas to the United States. It will take considerable time, in some instances months and in others several years, for all VWP systems to be in place, so that Bulgarians and other qualified nationalities will be able to travel without visas to the United States. Already, four out of five Bulgarians who apply for tourist visas receive them. We want more Bulgarians to come to the United States for study, business, and tourism, to visit family, and to meet the American people face-to-face. We will work closely with the Bulgarian Government to help Bulgaria meet all requirements of the law and eventually to join the VWP.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=83917
07 août 2007
US Visa Remain for Bulgarians?
It is very likely the hopes of Bulgarians for soon removal of US visa for them to be futile, announced Sega newspaper.
The draft, which was signed by the American president George Bush, allows the citizens of the states -allies of Washington in the fight against terrorism to enter the US only with their passports and to stay there for up to 90 days.
As international.news.bg informed, the draft was approved by the Congress with 371 votes “for” and 40 “against”. Only after the president signed it, the US department of state and the US ministry of interior security could define which countries are eligible for the new criteria of the visa-free program.
Main requirement for the removal of the visa regime for US is 10% visa denials for the previous year.
In 2006 USA has denied visa to around 15-16% of those applying for it.
Till now, the denial limit for the US was 3%.
Although Bulgaria does not cover the criteria, the country is among those states, mentioned by president Bush as potential participants in the program for visa-free access to the US together with Romania, Hungary, Latvia and Poland, which are also not withing the 10% limit, adds Sega newspaper.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1589229526
17 juillet 2007
Bush to Bulgaria's Stanishev: Thank You and All the Best, Sergey!
 Photo by government.bg |
US President George Bush, who paid a visit to Bulgaria on June 10-11 at the end of his European tour, has sent a handwritten thank-you letter to Bulgaria's Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev.
"I appreciate your candour and your vision for your country and our relationship," the letter reads.
"I wish you all the best in dealing with your parliament as you implement your reform agenda," it concludes.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev on June 11, President George Bush called him Mr Clean, referring to his efforts to combat organized crime.
The two also exchanged gifts - Stanishev, known for his passion for motor bikes and rock music, was more than happy to receive a leather jacket with the colours of Bulgaria and the United States encrusted on it. Bush flew to Washington with a gold-plated copy of a vessel from the Panagyurishte treasure.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=83077
01 juillet 2007
Bulgaria's Anchor at CNN: Bush Profited from Sofia Visit
US President George Bush received positive coverage of his visit to Sofia, Ralitsa Vassileva, the sophisticated Bulgarian anchor at CNN International said during her visit to her home country.
"The media in the US cited the words of Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov, who said that the two countries' relations are in their best state now in more than a hundred years of their establishment," Vassileva pointed out at a meeting with colleagues from the Bulgarian national radio.
"CNN has many rivals on the market now, but its rating is very high and we are proud to be the TV channel that viewers trust most," she said.
Vassileva, who is very famous and always warmly welcomed in Bulgaria, said there are another three Bulgarian journalists, working at CNN.
"We don't say a single word in English when we speak with one another."
Ralitsa Vassileva developed a relationship with CNN by sending reports in English from Bulgaria for a show called World Report.
During a visit to CNN headquarters in Atlanta for a professional program, she was asked by World Report's producer to help her experiment with a dual anchor look for the show.
"So I co-anchored the show. By the way, that was also my debut as an anchor, I'd never done that before in my life! I had no idea all that would lead to a job with the company. But it did," the TV star recalls.
A year later, when CNN decides to build a separate channel for its international viewers, it contacts her in Bulgaria with an anchoring offer.
Since she assumed her duties at CNN International in 1992, Vassileva has anchored coverage of many major international news stories including most recently Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
In addition to her anchoring duties, Vassileva has reported in the field from places like Moscow, Jerusalem and the United Nations.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=82486
13 juin 2007
Castro: Loyalty -Thirsty Bush Relished Visit to Bulgaria
Cuban leader Fidel Castro slammed the European tour of US President George Bush, drawing particular attention to his stop in Bulgaria.
"George Bush is thirsty for commitment, and truly relished his visit to Bulgaria, which took place without any serious acts of animosity," says an article by Fidel Castro that was published in the Cuban press.
In his article entitled "The Tyrant in Tirana", the Cuban President criticizes the American president for standing up for Kosovo independence during his visit to Albania, ignoring the stand of Russia, Serbia and other European countries.
Castro also stressed on the US president commitment to provide an anti-missile defence for Bulgaria, a country that declared serious concerns about its exclusion from the shield.
A day earlier speaking to reporters in Sofia after his meeting with President Georgi Parvanov, George Bush said there are missile systems and defense systems available that would deal with intermediate-range missiles.
"So just because Bulgaria is not a part of the longer-range missile shield doesn't mean that there won't be equipment and help available for intermediate range," George Bush said.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=81758
World Media on President Bush Visit in Bulgaria
American president George Bush arrived at the Bulgarian capital Sofia for his last visit of his eight-day European tour, announces CNN.
After the warm receiving of the American head of state by Albania, George Bush was festively received in Bulgaria.
The visit of the American president in the former big ally of the Soviet Union is part of Bulgaria's aspiration for strengthening its relations with the West after it joined NATO in 2004 and EU at the beginning of this year, comments CNN.
One of the main topics to be discussed by the two presidents will be the placement of the American anti-missile shield, the independence of Kosovo, as well as the case if the Bulgarian nurses sentenced in Libya.
In the sunny, fresh morning the presidents of USA and Bulgaria George Bush and Georgi Parvanov passed through the red carpet on the square in front of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
This is how Associated Press announces about the visit of the American president in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is a country, which keeps serious relations with the USA both in economic and in political aspect.
The name of the American president and his political activity are well known in Bulgaria in contrast to other parts of the world, notes the agency. Despite the country's aspiration for durable binding with the West, Bulgaria still feels strongly connected to Russia, adds AP, not omitting to remind the heated dialogue between Bush and Putin several days ago on the placement of American anti-missile shield on European territory.
The agency points out also to the anti globalization protests organized in Bulgarian capital.
George Bush arrived in Bulgaria for a meeting with one of US most reliable European allies.
This is how the daily “International Herald Tribune” comments on president Bush visit to Bulgaria.
The edition points out a comment of a representative of the American embassy in Sofia, according to whom Bush wants to show Bulgaria as an example of successful and fast development among the Balkan countries.
Bulgaria relies on help from US for a just solution of the case with the Bulgarian nurses in Libya, informs AFP.
The agency points out the strict security measures in the Bulgarian capital during Bush visit in the country. AFP marks also that this is the second visit of American president in Bulgaria after the visit of Bill Clinton in 1999.
Bulgaria shows strong support for the USA in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is expected the country to increase the number of its soldiers there, comments also the agency.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1738446483
First Ladies of US and Bulgaria Discuss HIV/AIDS Concerns
The First Ladies of USA and Bulgaria, Lora Bush and Zorka Purvanova discussed concerns related to HIV/AIDS at a roundtable that took place at the Health Ministry.
The initiative was part of the official program of US President Bush and his wife visit in Bulgaria.
At the roundtable also participated Bulgarian Health Minister Radoslav Gaidarski and Dr. Tonka Vurleva - national coordinator on HIV/AIDS and coordinator for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The two ladies met 2 HIV-infected women who told them about their life and efforts to uphold the interests and rights of people living with HIV/AIDS and their fight against the illness.
At the discussion was presented the successful practices of Bulgaria in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
50 % of the necessary finances for the HIV/AIDS prevention in Bulgaria are received thanks to the Global Fund, which biggest donor is the US.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_286023994
12 juin 2007
George Bush: I support efforts of PM Stanishev in fight against corruption and criminality
| 12 June 2007 | 00:33 | FOCUS News Agency |
 |
|
Sofia. I support the efforts of PM Stanishev in his fight against corruption and criminality, US President George Bush announced within the talks held with Bulgarian PM Sergei Stanishev, the press office of the Council of Ministers informed. |
Script of Press Conference of US President Bush, Bulgaria's President Parvanov
Archaeological Museum
Sofia, Bulgaria
PRESIDENT PARVANOV: (As translated.) Distinguished members of the delegation, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like briefly to outline the results of the discussions we just had and just closed with the President of the United States, George Bush. I must say this is a very significant visit. This is rather proof, very cogent proof of the fact that our two countries' relations are in their best state now in more than a hundred years of their establishment.
I am happy we had a chance today to draw the balance sheet of what has happened in the interim since the meeting, our visit there in Washington in October 2005. And indeed, the balance sheet is definitely positive. The United States and Bulgaria continue to be good, reliable partners within NATO, within the peacekeeping missions in different parts of the world. This is a firm, long-term commitment. It is not affected by the changes and setup of the political situations in both countries.
The second thing that strikes about it is the new dynamics in the development of our economic relations. We have either new or updated treaties, bilateral treaties, which give the framework of our business contacts. There has been a sharp trend of improving the term over the American investments in Bulgaria, and the number of U.S. tourists to Bulgaria also is on the increase. However, this is not the ceiling. We believe there is a much greater potential. This is why we should seek and explore the avenues of promoting these trends in several directions: A, by presenting a better, fuller, and more adequate image of Bulgaria in the United States, with an emphasis on the business information, addressed to the businesspeople. And I hope that the newly set-up foundation, America for Bulgaria, will promote these efforts.
Second, in the foreseeable future, very soon we will hopefully have a positive solution on the visa regime, on facilitating, lifting the visa barriers. And we do appreciate everything that President Bush has personally been doing in the light of the negotiations within the United States and European Union. And we, in turn, pledge to do our best to meet our commitments on the security, which is one of the major criteria in addressing this issue.
I believe we should make an effort to improve the structure of trade and investment. And I did lay down to my guest, President Bush, the possibility for a more significant involvement of American businesses in the major energy projects, both in Bulgaria and the Balkans -- in the infrastructure in the defense industry, a better cooperation in this area, in the defense industry, could be an important incentive for the development of our economy as a whole. I do hope we will have the support of President Bush and the United States in our effort to modernize our armed forces at a faster pace, so that we could be effective and efficient in performing -- discharging our commitments as allies.
And next I would like to thank President Bush for the support we've always enjoyed from the United States to our efforts to find a fair, a just solution to the crisis with the Bulgarian medics in Libya, and for their release. And I was happy to hear from him this repeated support.
At the same time, we discussed the two countries' possibilities both within our interaction with the European Union, and otherwise to support and help for the treatment of the AIDS-infected children and their families, as a longer-term commitment through involvement in the International Fund, which is meant to streamline this process. And I did point out to President Bush that there are expectations both among the public and in the media in this country -- an expectation from the major companies to get involved and to donate to this fund.
We also discussed a wide range of international issues related to the situation in the Balkans, to our desire to play a stabilizing role in the Balkans, to be a factor of stability here. We also commented on some of the issues that are on both agenda, and on the agendas of the European Union and NATO.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: President Parvanov, thank you very much. I call him George. He calls me George. It's good to be here in your beautiful country. Laura and I are looking forward to our lunches together. Thank you very much.
We are allies, we share values, and we believe in freedom. And I appreciate the progress your country has made toward a free society. And I thank you for being an ally in helping others realize the blessings of liberty. We have accepted our responsibilities to help defend freedom against terrorists and extremists, and it's hard work. And I thank the people of Bulgaria for understanding the stakes, the true challenges of the 21st century.
We had a great discussion, and that's what you'd expect among friends. I am impressed by the transition that Bulgaria has made to a free market economy. Success is evidenced by results, by the results of attracting more capital. I know U.S. companies are seriously looking at Bulgaria, and that's because there is transparency and fairness in taxes. In other words, when somebody invests in a country, they expect to get a reasonable rate of return, and they expect government to not interfere, but, in fact, to expedite the flow of capital. And so, therefore, when the President talks about more capital coming to your country from the United States, it means that the government has made reforms necessary to attract capital.
My call, of course, is to continue to make reforms, and if you find corruption, rout it out. People of Bulgaria expect their government to be open and honest, and so do those who spend capital in countries. And the President is committed to that, I know.
We talked about the energy diversification program for Bulgaria. America has got to diversify its energy, too. We're too dependent on foreign sources of energy. So we share a common goal about diversification of energy supply. We're in the process of spending a lot of money on new technologies that will enable us to diversify our energy supply, and at the same time, be good stewards of the environment. And I look forward to sharing those technologies with countries once they become fully developed.
I appreciate very much the reforms you made so that the EU is comfortable in accepting Bulgaria as a member state, and I congratulate you on those accomplishments. And, of course, we're proud to stand with you in NATO. These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved.
We discussed, of course, Iraq. And I thank the President and I thank the people of Bulgaria for supporting those in Iraq who long to live in a free society. The fight is tough in Iraq, and I know some of your families have suffered. And on behalf of our nation, I extend our condolences and prayers to the families who have lost a loved one against these extremists and murderers.
I thank you for your commitment to Afghanistan. And I appreciate so very much your willingness to do the hard work necessary to enable young democracies to survive, in the face of significant opposition from ideologues who use murder as a weapon to achieve their objectives. Mr. President, I firmly believe the commitments that we're making are laying the foundations of peace for generations to come.
I thank you for your advice on Kosovo. We spent some time talking about Kosovo. The time is now to move the Ahtisaari plan. America believes that Kosovo ought to be independent, and I sought the President's advice. One of the things he made clear is something I agree with, and that is, is that as we seek independence for Kosovo, we've also got to make it clear to Serbia that there's a way forward, maybe in NATO, maybe in the EU, and definitely in better relations with the United States. So I thank you for your sound judgment and your solid advice.
We talked about the Bulgarian nurses. This is not the first conversation I've had with the President on this subject. He's deeply concerned about the fate of the nurses. We spoke in person about it at the White House, we have had phone calls on the subject, and, of course, today, again, he emphasized his deep concern for the nurses and their families. And I appreciate your compassion, Mr. President.
We strongly support the release of the Bulgarian nurses in Libya. That's the position of the United States. They should be released, and they should be allowed to be returned to their families. We will continue to make clear to Libya that the release of these nurses is a high priority for our country.
Our hearts also go out to the children who have been infected by HIV/AIDS. Together with the EU, the United States is contributing to a fund to provide assistance to the Libyan children suffering from this disease, and to their families. My hope is that this issue gets resolved quickly.
We talked about visa reform. I assured the President what I said in the past is what I still believe, and that is we need to reform our visa system. The system is stuck in the past. It can be reformed to work better for the citizens of this country. And I'm working with Congress to get it done. We're in the middle of an immigration debate, as well, in America. I hope that my country understands that it's in our interest to treat people with respect and to treat people fairly. And so I told the President that we'll continue to work with Congress to resolve this issue in a satisfactory way. I've laid out a way forward, and I'm committed to seeing it through.
And so, George, thanks for having me. It's been a good visit. I'm looking forward to lunch. And I guess we'll answer some questions.
Q Good morning, Mr. President. You've had a week in Europe, and I wonder, as we head home, if I could ask you to turn to some domestic issues. Your Attorney General is under fire in the Senate. General Pace has had a setback. The immigration reform bill seems not to be moving very quickly. I won't even mention the latest polls. So I'm just wondering, sir, as you head home, to what extent do you still have the political clout and capital to get some of these issues done? Do you have any left? If you do, how do you intend to use it?
PRESIDENT BUSH: First of all, we've had a great trip, Ed. It's a chance for America to talk about a liberty agenda, and a chance to talk to our allies about how we can advance it and what we can do together to make our respective countries better off.
Listen, the immigration debate is a tough debate. I'm under no
illusions about how hard it is. There are people in my party that don't want a comprehensive bill; there are people in the Democrat Party that don't seem to want a comprehensive bill. I was disappointed that the bill was temporarily derailed.
I, frankly, find it interesting that in -- a so-called important subject they need to get to would be to pass a political resolution on my Attorney General that's going to have no bearing on whether he serves in office, or not.
I believe we can get an immigration bill. Now, it's going to require leadership from the Democrat leaders in the Senate, and it's going to require me to stay engaged and work with Republicans who want a bill.
Last -- earlier in this trip, I called three members of the Senate from the Republican Party, and said, what can we do together to get the bill back up? What do we need to do to work with senators like Senator Ted Kennedy, who is strongly committed to a comprehensive bill? And tomorrow I'll be going to the Senate to talk about a way forward on the piece of legislation.
It's important that we address this issue now. And I believe we can get it done. Listen, there was -- a lot of progress was made between people in both parties making hard decisions necessary to move a comprehensive plan. It's in the nation's interest to get a comprehensive bill done. The political process sometimes isn't pretty to look at it; there's two steps forward, one step back. We made two steps forward on immigration, we took a step back, and now I'm going to work with those who are focused on getting an immigration bill done and start taking some steps forward again. I believe we can get it done. I'll see you at the bill signing.
Q President Bush, you have already voiced your support in favor of our medics and their release. We appreciate that. Despite the fact that our fellow country people are still in prison, absolutely innocent, as you well know, I would like to ask you, as a part of the general effort to solve this drama, which has been going on for more than eight years now, my question is, would you commit yourself to lobbying in front of the U.S. Congress, and doing so that some of the funds under your five-year program for fighting HIV/AIDS can go to supporting the children infected with AIDS and their families?
And, President Parvanov, I would be happy to hear your view on the Libya issue, and notably, how would you comment the fact -- rather the Bulgarian media's idea who are covering the trial in Libya, to send a letter to the hundred most influential representatives of the community business, according to the Forbes ratings, and call on them to donate to the building of a modern, up-to-date medical center where children, or where people with HIV/AIDS would be receiving?
PRESIDENT BUSH: There's a fund into which we're contributing money. And I don't think you ought to be concerned about the source of the funding; what you ought to be focused on is whether or not the U.S. is willing to commit funds, along with the EU. And we are. And at the same time, we're willing to send messages to the Libya government that we expect the release of the nurses. We've been very much in concert with your government. This is an issue that we care about. But we do agree with the strategy that there ought to be some compensation for the Libyan children and their families.
PRESIDENT PARVANOV: Ladies and gentlemen, many of you know that I have visited Libya, I have visited the hospital in Benghazi. I've spoken with the parents and the infected children, and I'm clearly aware of the great drama they're suffering, they're going through, and how much needs to be done in order to invest in this hospital and in order to relieve the pain and suffering of both the children and their families and friends.
This is a Bulgarian, this is a European, this is a commitment of the entire democratic public, worldwide. By all means, Bulgaria, and I believe our friends from the United States and the European Union, consider this not a one-off, not a temporary attempt to release the nurses and then we quit -- and I'm happy that this was -- we went along with George on this. For us, this is a long-term commitment. This is a commitment we take in respect of both those suffering in Benghazi, but also everyone suffering of AIDS not just in Benghazi, but in the whole of Africa. Let's remember the G8 and their decision, $60 billion were allocated to this policy by the world community a few days ago.
I, for one, six months ago, in addressing the European Parliament, I said -- and I appealed to the big players, so to speak, worldwide, in the businesses worldwide, to take a firmer commitment to this fund, to donate more, contribute more to this fund. In this sense, I join my voice and I welcome and I do support the appeal which the Bulgarian media have issued. I hope their voice will be heard. I know whenever the media speak their voice is heard more clearly than that of politicians.
Q Mr. President, I want to take you back to domestic issues again. You say the no-confidence vote has no bearing as to whether Alberto Gonzales remains as Attorney General. How can he continue to be effective? And it seems like you're not listening to Congress when it comes to Gonzales, but you are listening to Congress when it comes to Peter Pace.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, it's an interesting comment about Congress, isn't it, that, on the one hand, they say that a good general shouldn't be reconfirmed, and on the other hand, they say that my Attorney General shouldn't stay. And I find it interesting. I guess it reflects the political atmosphere of Washington. And they can try to have their votes of no confidence, but it's not going to determine -- make the determination who serves in my government.
Pete Pace was going to go up for confirmation. That's the difference. I have -- I had confidence in Pete Pace. But people view this as an opportunity to make statements, and upon the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Gates, I agreed to send up another nominee.
And as to how Gonzales -- first of all, this process has been drug out a long time, which says to me it's political. There's no wrongdoing. You know, he -- they haven't said, here's -- you've done something wrong, Attorney General Gonzales. And therefore, I ascribe this lengthy series of news stories and hearings as political. And I'll make the determination if I think he's effective, or not, not those who are using an opportunity to make a political statement on a meaningless resolution.
Q President, clearly the relations between our two countries, politically, have been very good. How could we achieve the same in the area of security, in the context of the anti-missile shield, our cooperation in using common sites, and also in respect of the trade investment?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me to start on the missiles. The proposed missile shield is aimed at long-range missiles, missiles that would fly over Bulgaria. There are missile systems and defense systems available that would deal with intermediate-range missiles. So just because Bulgaria is not a part of the longer-range missile shield doesn't mean that there won't be equipment and help available for intermediate range. That's how I can answer that question.
I know this creates some concerns around Europe, this missile shield, because of Russian objections. And so I had a meeting with President Putin in Germany at the G8 and explained to him what I've been saying publicly, is the missile shield would be developed to deal with a rogue regime that would try to hold a free nation hostage, or free nations hostage. It's not aimed at Russia.
I talked to Vladimir Putin a lot about our relations and made it clear that I simply do not view Russia as an enemy. I view Russia as a country with whom we should have and can have good relations to solve common problems.
One such problem is Iran. Another problem is proliferation. There are areas we can work together, and he brought an interesting proposal. He said, I have an idea; why don't we jointly use a radar in Azerbaijan to help deal with a potential threat? And I said, that's a good idea, I don't know how -- whether it's technologically feasible, I'm not an expert. I've got experts in my government, however, who could analyze your proposal, and I'd like for you to maybe -- not "maybe" -- I'd like for you to assign some experts in your government to analyze my proposal.
And that's where we left it in Germany. So we're going to have a group of people come together from the State Department, Defense Department and the military to discuss how to deal with the true threats of the 21st century.
And I would hope that would help explain some of the rhetoric that people in your country have seen coming out of the G8, that there's a process where we can collaborate and share information in a very transparent way, which I think will be beneficial. And I would hope that the Russians would see the meetings as beneficial and our meetings -- realize our true intent, and hopefully design systems that protect us all.
PRESIDENT PARVANOV: I would like to begin by saying that we welcome the strategic dialogue, and it was described as a strategic dialogue by both leaders, both by President Bush and by Putin, a dialogue which started within the framework of G8. We Bulgarians would accept any solution that would provide more guarantees, more security guarantees, more guarantees of the indivisibility of the security of the Euro-Atlantic space -- any solution that has been achieved, hammered out through dialogue and in transparency, any solution that is not directed against a third country, notably Russia, in this case.
I would take the liberty of paraphrasing something that was said in Prague -- hopefully my source was reliable; the President would correct me if I'm wrong or imprecise -- the Bulgarians must not choose between their friendship with the United States and that with Russia. The Bulgarians should and can maintain friendly relations with both countries. Just as I am a friend with George and a friend with Vladimir, we could maintain, within the context of our Euro-Atlantic orientation, friendly relations with both, without diluting the things, without losing sight of our strategic priorities. We should maintain relations with everyone who thinks likewise.
This same approach would apply to the energy, the infrastructure sphere. This is why Bulgaria maintains -- has maintained active relations with Russia on the major infrastructure, or rather, energy projects.
I myself, earlier today, offered to President Bush a clearer, firmer commitment by American companies to the energy project. Chevron, in respect of Bourgas-Alexandroupolis, or AMBO -- I'm not going to list them all here -- this is an investment in peace and the security of the region. This is a geostrategic contribution. And I'm saying this both as the President of Bulgaria, but also as a citizen of the Balkans, a region for whose fate and future I feel responsible.
Well, I declare the end of the conference of both Presidents.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you.
END 11:05 A.M. (Local)
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=81722
Bush, on European Tour, Perfects the Art of Meet and Run
SOFIA, Bulgaria, June 11 — “It’s good to be here in your beautiful country,” President Bush told President Georgi Parvanov of Bulgaria on Monday morning. He would be in the “beautiful country” for roughly 20 hours, half of them spent inside his hotel. In the world of White House travel, that is an eternity.
Being on the road with Mr. Bush invariably invokes comparisons to that old movie “If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium,” and his eight-day, six-country European tour was no exception. Mr. Bush is not one to linger or to waste time — this is, after all, the president who traveled to India and skipped seeing the Taj Mahal — but the Europe trip may have set some sort of record for speed.
Mr. Bush did stay put in Heiligendamm, Germany, for two full days to attend a meeting of leaders of the world’s leading economic powers. And he spent two nights in Rome, staying at the home of the American ambassador, Ronald P. Spogli, an old friend of his from Harvard Business School, who helped raise more than $100,000 for each of Mr. Bush’s presidential campaigns before getting his plum assignment.
Often, though, he was a man on the run. “I’m proud to be the first American sitting president to visit Albania,” Mr. Bush told Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Monday. “It’s a great honor to represent my country here. I’ve really been looking forward to this trip and so has my wife, Laura.” The Bushes spent eight hours in Albania, sandwiching the stop between Rome and Sofia.
That was nothing compared with Mr. Bush’s visit to Poland, where he had dinner at President Lech Kaczynski’s private retreat, a sort of Camp David by the sea. It was a spectacular landscape, overlooking the glittering Baltic, and Mr. Bush gushed as he spoke to reporters with Mr. Kaczynski by his side. “This is our third trip to Poland,” the president said. “We have never been in this beautiful part of your country, and it’s spectacular.”
Those words were spoken at an airplane hangar in Gdansk, with Air Force One parked outside, so that Mr. Bush could make a hasty exit after his three-hour stay.
Wheels of One’s Own
Where Air Force One goes, so does “the beast.”
The beast is what the Secret Service calls Mr. Bush’s limousine, the heavily fortified black Cadillac with the presidential license plates. At the Group of 8 meeting in Germany, the other world leaders arrived for dinner in minivans provided by their German hosts. Mr. Bush arrived in the beast.
Mr. Bush actually travels with two limousines, transported by military jet, either a C-5 or a C-17. They serve not only as his wheels, but as his protection; when he was mobbed by admirers in Albania, he stood on the running board of his limousine to wave at the screaming crowd. The Secret Service promptly drove the backup limo close behind him, to keep him covered from the rear.
But the beast is not always reliable, as the president discovered in Rome. While traveling from the Vatican to the American Embassy, the limousine stalled, giving the Secret Service a scare and forcing Mr. Bush’s motorcade of about two dozen cars to come to a halt for five minutes.
The car eventually started back up and completed the trip, then had trouble squeezing through the embassy gates. So Mr. Bush got out and walked in.
The beast was later seen in a shady spot with its hood up, a mechanic poking his head underneath. The small presidential seal was taken off the door, and the backup limousine was pressed into service for Mr. Bush’s short ride to his next public appearance that day, with Prime Minister Romano Prodi at Chigi Palace.
No word from the White House on what the trouble was.
A Style Like No Other
By the time Mr. Bush left Sofia for Washington on Monday afternoon, he had already taken six plane flights and at least that many helicopter rides.
After eight days on the road and a bout with an unspecified stomach ailment that kept him in bed one morning in Germany, he could perhaps be excused for sounding a bit punchy.
“I call him George,” the president said of President Parvanov, whose first name is Georgi, as they stood side by side in a grand hall of the Museum of National Archaeology here. Mr. Bush then paused for effect, adding, “He calls me George.”
But when the president praised the other George for winning admission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, he tripped over his syntax. “We’re proud to stand with you in NATO,” Mr. Bush said. “These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved.”
Later in the day, Mr. Bush met with 10 current and former students at the Elieff Center for Education and Culture at the American University in Bulgaria. They included several Bulgarians, a Serb, a resident of Kosovo, an Albanian and a young woman from Afghanistan. The event was intended to highlight the benefits that education can bring, not only in economic development but also in cultural understanding.
During the session, Mr. Bush exhibited some cultural understanding of his own. During a chat with Nita Gojani, a Kosovar with purple-dyed hair, she told him that she had at one point studied in Hawaii.
“So,” the president of the United States asked, “were you one of those surfer chicks?”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/12/world/europe/12notebook.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print