US Deputy State Secretary: Bulgaria Must Act as Model for Balkan States

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mladenov (right) with US Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg (left) in Sofia Thursday. Mladenov thinks Bulgaria's EU membership is also helping Bulgarian expand its cooperation with the USA. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria must act as a model for the states in Southeastern Europe which are aspiring to join NATO, US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said in Sofia.

Steinberg had his first meeting on Thursday with Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov. Both Mladenov and Steinberg came to Sofia from Sarajevo where they took part in the EU-Western Balkans Summit on Wednesday.

“Bulgaria can play an important role in aiding the Balkan countries on their way to NATO. We live in a time of challenges, and we are convinced we can build a better future by working together,” stated the American diplomat.

“We have confirmed the increasingly intensive dialogue between Bulgaria and the United States on security issues, NATO’s new strategic concept, and mission of the Alliance in Afghanistan,” Minister Mladenov said after his meeting with Steinberg.

Bulgaria’s top diplomat stressed the importance of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sarajevo for confirming the European future of the region. Yet, he believes the EU needs a new agreement with the Western Balkan states so that the latter can make clear-cut commitments for reforms and good-neighborly relations.

Mladenov underscored the fact that Bulgaria’s EU membership has provided it with an increasing number of tools for successful cooperation with the United States.

He and the US Deputy Secretary of State also discussed the establishment of a US missile shield in Europe, including the potential stationing of some of its elements on Bulgarian soil, but in light of the upcoming NATO summit in Lisbon in November 2010, when the entire Alliance is expected to adopt the missile defense system as a project of its own.

They have emphasized that the door for Russia to join the shield will be open once the discussions within NATO are completed.

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