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Bulgaria has expressed its strong support to
the NATO military campaign in Yugoslavia through the following actions:
On May 5, 1999, the National Assembly
agreed by a vote of 154 to 83 to allow NATO aircraft to fly over Bulgarian air space in
carrying out its military campaign against Yugoslavia. Bulgaria received the overflight
request from NATO on April 17. Under its Constitution, the presence of foreign armed
forces on Bulgarian territory must be approved by the National Assembly. On April 21,
Prime Minister Ivan Kostov met with NATO officials in Brussels to discuss the request and
to receive security guarantees from NATO. Bulgaria agreed to regulated NATO aircraft
access to the two corridors along Bulgaria's western border with Yugoslavia (70-90 miles)
and its southern borders with Turkey (12 miles). The overflight corridor includes the
capital city of Sofia.
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NATO Secretary General Javier Solana
addresses the Parliament of Bulgaria
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NATO Secretary General Javier Solana has
said that the alliance will respond to any challenge to Bulgaria's security coming from
Yugoslavia.
Five NATO missiles have accidently landed
in Bulgarian territory since the military campaign began, including a High-Speed
Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) that struck a private home in suburban Sofia. NATO has
pledged to work closely with Bulgarian officials to prevent future accidents. Bulgaria has
proposed the development of a "friend or foe" identification system and constant
monitoring and information exchanges between Bulgarian and NATO authorities.
Bulgaria is supporting the European Union
and NATO oil embargo against Yugoslavia. Bulgaria has halted the delivery of oil products
that pass through Bulgaria into Yugoslavia. It has increased security along its border
with Yugoslavia to prevent individual citizens from selling gasoline in Yugoslavia.
Bulgaria was among the first nations to
condemn the human rights violations of the Yugoslavian Government in Kosovo, and to call
for multilateral action in support of a diplomatic solution. Bulgaria supported the
Rambouillet peace process as a serious effort to put an end to a series of four wars that
have been waged in the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the past eight years.
The Government has announced that no
Bulgarian troops or military installations will be used by NATO in carrying out the
military campaign against Yugoslavia. No Bulgarian troops will intervene directly in the
conflict.
Bulgaria is providing military equipment to
neighboring Macedonia as part of a bilateral grant agreement signed earlier this year to
strengthen Macedonia's defense and security capabilities. On May 14, Bulgaria handed as a
grant over 31 T-55 tanks and 18 122-mm howitzers and ammunition as part of the first phase
of the transfer.
Bulgaria is committed to addressing the
tremendous humanitarian needs of the crisis through the following initiatives:
Shipped more than 1,500 tons of food,
medical supplies and related assistance to refugee camps in neighboring Macedonia.
Provided 100 field kitchens, a field
hospital and prefabricated housing for 3,000 refugees.
Accepted 400 refugees for medical treatment
in Bulgaria.
Permitted the safe passage of refugees
between Macedonia and Turkey through Bulgaria.
Bulgaria has served as a temporary stopover
for numerous relief shipments originating from several countries in Europe and Russia.
Bulgarian charity organizations are raising
money in support of refugee operations.
Bulgaria has pledged that not a single
victim who seeks shelter from the conflict will be turned away from its borders. To date,
approximately 2,500 citizens of Yugoslavia have come to Bulgaria.
Bulgaria's economy has been adversely
affected by the crisis:
Critical road, rail and waterway links
between Bulgaria and Western European markets pass through Yugoslavia. These
transportation routes carry more than 50 percent of Bulgaria's exports. Exports and
imports are currently being diverted to longer transport routes through Romania and
Greece, increasing transportation costs.
Bulgaria has estimated that the war in
Yugoslavia will increase the deficit in its balance of payments by $70 million per month,
resulting from blocked exports. The World Bank announced on April 28 that it would
increase by $25 million financial aid to support Bulgaria's balance of payments.
Industrial sales declined by 16% and retail
sales declined by 4.6% in April - the worst decline for both economic indicators since
1997. Bulgaria's Ministry of Trade and Tourism announced on May 12 that direct economic
losses to the country as a result of the war in Yugoslavia was 80 billion leva ($43.8
million) to date. This includes reduced customs duties and lost transactions in the
construction, energy, industrial and transport sectors.
Bulgaria's Agency for Economic Analysis and
Forecasts said it would lower the country's 1999 economic growth forecast from 2.5% to
1.7% if the war lasts more than two months.
Private economists have predicted that
Bulgaria's privatization campaign and its ability to attract foreign investment - key
components of its economic restructuring program - are already being affected by the
conflict.
Bulgaria pledges to be an active partner in
addressing the post-conflict peacekeeping, economic and humanitarian needs of the region.
Bulgarian officials have participated in numerous international meetings organized by the
European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development to discuss post-crisis reconstruction assistance to the
Balkan region.
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