Bulgaria Foreign Policy

The principle of Bulgarian foreign strategy is to carry on defining the international priorities and tactical orientation of their country, being accountable to its citizens and to their associates and partners. Bulgaria aims at clearness and predictability in resolution making and completion of foreign policy and applies an unbiased approach in foreign policy behavior and initiatives. (Seymore B, 1993, p. 70) Bulgaria is a staunch backer of the universal self-governing and humanitarian values and ensues from their defense and promotion as a structure for its foreign policy.

Bulgaria’s EU association has created new opportunities for enhancing the country’s task and reputation in the international neighborhood. (Blankson A, 2007, p. 92) How Bulgaria uses its ‘Instruments of foreign policy’ to influence the international community Bulgaria is building great efforts to endorse peace, security and constancy especially on a local scale, and globally as well, guided by the sympathetic of the indivisibility of intercontinental security and by its loyalty to universal democratic and human principles. (Stone W, 2002, p. 87)

Bulgaria as a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) associate, continues its hard work towards adequate and effective participation in the policy and decision making procedure of NATO and for the triumphant integration of the nationwide interests. (Stone W, 2002, p. 88) Bulgaria pursues vigorous foreign policy that takes full explanation of the challenges of globalizing contemporary world. The country continues to triumph recognition as a dependable partner in fighting terrorism and other intimidation to international safety. (Brzezinski W, 2002, p. 98)

Moreover, Bulgaria focuses on the expansion of the existing intercontinental forms of efficient counteraction and prevention of the propagation of weapons of mass obliteration and of ensuring effective sell abroad control. (Brzezinski Z, 1997, p. 100) Amongst the main priorities of Bulgarian foreign policy are the fortification of human rights and elementary freedoms and the adherence of the generally established international standards. Bulgaria supports the improvement of the accessible system of intercontinental mechanisms and bodies for human rights monitoring and fortification in order to improve their effectiveness.

(Stone W, 2002, p. 89) Bulgaria has been an active partaker in military operations outside its boundaries. Currently, it has corporation sized units running with alliance forces in Afghanistan and Iraq and has maintained little contingents of troops urbanized with international military in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. It deployed a frigate to Lebanon with UNIFIL in late 2006 and has more than a few military observers helping in support of United Nations missions in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Kosovo. (Cronin K, 2004, p. 61) Bulgaria’s association with its neighbors has in general been good.

Bulgaria has verified to be a productive force in the county and has played a significant role in promoting local security amongst the international community. (Stone W, 2002, p. 89) According to the World Bank, in 2006 Bulgaria engrossed the uppermost levels of foreign direct investment as a share of GDP among the Eastern European countries. However, a growing current account shortfall estimated to have reached 20% of GDP and extreme reliance on foreign assets inflow rendered the financial system vulnerable to exterior shock.

Nevertheless, to attract supplementary foreign investment, the Bulgarian administration lowered company tax rates to 10% which was the lowest fee in Europe. A flat duty rate of 10% for individual income would further decrease domestic effort costs and help decrease the share of the gray financial system. As a result, the assembly passed fiscal devolution of municipalities giving way authority over compilation and administration of some levies, therefore further enhancing local monetary stability among the intercontinental community.

(Brzezinski A, 1997, p. 99) Bulgaria is making stable efforts to toughen its national security for which the chief military and political assurance stems from the county’s association in NATO. Bulgaria is concerned both in preserving NATO’s principle role associated with the communal defense of its Member States, and in the expansion of the Alliance’s capabilities for adequate comeback to the new intimidation and challenges. (Seymore B, 1993, p. 75) HOW THREE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIES APPLY TO BULGARIA

The closing stage of the Cold War era of bipolarity has raised numerous important questions regarding the function of the United States in the Balkans. The United States and its NATO associates have made diverse commitments regarding the security challenges that have arisen in that area since the early 1990’s. (Blankson A, 2007, p. 93) The United States affirmed its support for political and economic reorganization in Bulgaria and committed its awareness and resources to endorse Sofia’s engagement in Western safety institutions.

(Seymore B, 1993, p. 80) The three international strategies include drug trafficking, struggle against crime, corruption and terrorism. Bulgaria recognizes the solemn threat of drug trafficking within and throughout the country. Domestic and international structured crime groups, numerous of which involved in prohibited trade in other possessions and in financial crimes, frequently alter the tendencies and models for use of the region of the country for storage space and shipment of prohibited drugs.

The arrangement and methods used by these groups are under steady surveillance by law enforcement agencies with a scrutiny to preventing allotment of drugs and their effect on political, social, economic and culture spheres of our life. (Stone W, 2002, p. 91) Bulgaria is geologically well placed to play a momentous role in enhancing the international anti-drug attempt. Over the current years Bulgaria has a foremost position amongst European countries in terms of heroin seizures and the intercontinental community’s aim is to carry on to contribute considerably to curbing and counteracting illegal drug trafficking.

(Blankson A, 2007, p. 98) Having in mind the long-time obligation to international labors against illegal drug trafficking and to the struggle against international violence, the Republic of Bulgaria is resolutely resolved to make stronger its actions for reducing those illegal activities on the region of the country and internationally. (Cronin K, 2004, p. 66) U. S FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES TO BULGARIA In May 2005, the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement which gives the United States armed right of entry to and shared use of numerous Bulgarian military amenities.

The United States military intends to use this right of entry to facilitate joint preparation with the Bulgarian and Romanian militaries. (Blankson A, 2007, p. 102) Moreover, in February 2007, Bulgaria and the Unites States signed an agreement on evasion of double taxation that is anticipated to further endorse U. S. investment in Bulgaria. (Seymore B, 1993, p. 83) The most important U. S. interest in Bulgaria is to uphold the region’s constancy and security so that conflicts do not have an effect on U. S. welfare in Western Europe and the Middle East. (Cronin K, 2004, p. 71) HOW FOREIGN POLICY OF BULGARIA AFFECTS THE UNITED STATES

Bulgaria foreign policy precedence number one is to make sure full membership of their state in the European Union from 1 January 2007. The labors of all authorities at all administration levels will be mobilized to make certain the completion of the commitments undertaken in the negotiation procedure, and the triumphant ratification by EU Member States of the Accession Treaty, signed on 25 April 2005 and ratified by the Bulgaria National Assembly on 11 May 2005. (Stone W, 2002, p. 92) Bulgaria pursues a dynamic foreign policy that takes full explanation of the challenges of a globalizing modern globe.

The country continues to triumph recognition as a dependable partner in skirmishing terrorism and other threats to intercontinental security. An active strategy aimed at establishing working mechanisms for intercontinental cooperation and harmonization of counterterrorism labors will be implemented to support the U. S. (Brzezinski Z, 1997, p. 98) Moreover, the expansion of the obtainable international forms of effectual counteraction and avoidance of the propagation of weapons of mass obliteration and of ensuring effectual export control also assists United States in dealing with terrorism.

Bulgaria upholds its associations of strategic joint venture with the U. S. in the context of transatlantic collaboration and will aspire to further make stronger the monetary relations. (Cronin K, 2004, p. 78) Bulgaria’s companionship with the U. S. has to be put in the context of how it has affected the balance of power and nationwide interests amongst other local states. A close Washington-Sofia relationship comes at a moment when there is a main change going on in the Russian Federation. Currently oil and gas revenues united with Vladimir Putin’s tough management, have managed to put Russia back in order.

Putin is beginning to look to his foreign policy and his armed forces in order to project Russian welfare abroad and reinstate Russia’s customary spheres of influence. (Brzezinski Z, 1997, p. 105) The foreign policy of Bulgaria has led to coalition U. S. -Bulgarian alliance. For instance; throughout the Cold War, Bulgaria was extensively seen as a staunch Moscow satellite under the management of Todor Zhivkov. Fifteen years later following the fall of the Soviet Union, it is on its way to joining the West through N. A. T. O. and European Union membership.

(Seymore B, 1993, p. 86) Bulgarian foreign policy is the fortification of human rights and elementary freedoms and the observation of the generally accepted intercontinental standards in this field. The country supports the view that individual rights are worldwide, interdependent, indivisible and interconnected. In this context, Bulgaria supports as an issue of principle the improvement of the existing scheme of international mechanisms and bodies for individual rights monitoring and fortification in order to improve their efficiency towards United States.

(Stone W, 2002, p. 94) Conclusion Bulgarian foreign policy is based on the worldwide approach and indivisibility of safety both in general and within NATO and the EU, and it’s intended at attaining equal amount of security for all associate States. The standard of solidarity on the other hand is articulated in the country’s involvement within its potential in the international assistance for growth as well as all along the lines of promoting democracy. REFERENCE LIST Blankson. A (2007) Negotiating Democracy: Media Transformations in emerging,

Sunny Press. ISBN: 0791472337. Brzezinski. Z (1997) Russia and the Common Wealth of Independent States, M. E. Sharpe Publishers. ISBN: 1563246376. Cronin. K (2004) Attacking Terrorism: Elements of a Grand Strategy, Georgetown University Press. ISBN: 0878403477. Seymore. B (1993) International Affairs Directory of Organizations, ABC-CLIO Publishers. ISBN: 0874366860. Stone. W (2002) Lending Credibility: The International Monetary Fund, Princeton University Press. ISBN: 0691095299.