In an unstable international environment, economic and domestic political tension, the question of Bulgaria's role in European and geopolitical processes is becoming increasingly relevant. Can Bulgaria orient itself towards a more independent and balanced policy, similar to some countries in Central Europe? Where is the Russia-Ukraine war heading and will there be a diplomatic solution? Career diplomat Ognyan Garkov spoke to FACT.
– Mr. Garkov, the US is taking a leading role in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, but the EU seems to be on the second line. And Bulgaria is part of the EU. How do you view our position?
– We are part of the European Union, but only to the extent that we are “official” member. And this is so, because we were not accepted, like all other member states – by referendum. We are the only member state that entered the EU without a referendum.
– In principle, the topic of referendums in our country is very debatable, but still there was a political decision, and do people feel like part of the EU?
– We entered legally – yes, but insofar as the laws in our country are adopted by a minority, elected by 27-30%. But in practice, from a moral point of view, we can afford a little more free behavior – in the interest of the population. The main goal of a foreign policy is to provide domestic policy with the most favorable conditions for the standard of living of its citizens – as many of them as possible.
And in the case of the conflict Ukraine – Russia – EU we cannot be a factor. We must proceed from the role of Bulgaria. We are neither a military factor, nor can we have an economic impact like the USA, Europe, Ukraine, Russia. We must look for where to fit into this conflict with minimal damage. We can learn from the experience of other countries - Hungary, Slovakia, Poland; now there is a new cycle of behavior in Austria as well. Let's approach it more realistically, instead of implementing “directives“.
– Do you think that there are such politicians in our country who can categorically state a position that is not exactly the one requested by the European Union?
– That's where the work is - Bulgaria's problem at the moment is that we are governed by an ineffective, poorly useful for the people and narcissistic representative democracy. I have already said that these representatives are elected by 20-30% of those entitled to vote.
It is high time to move to direct democracy.
Direct democracy is through referendums, plebiscites, etc. Our very entry into the EU is morally illegitimate. Legally - yes, according to the laws voted for by the minority "governing + assemblies". But it is high time to change the Law on Referendums. Two or three amendments are needed in the competent law on the subject "On the direct participation of citizens in state power and local self-government", published in the State Gazette, No. 44 of June 12, 2009.
Until this happens, we must adhere to a more peaceful policy, if necessary - and neutrality.
– Europe has one opinion, the USA - another… the USA is ready to supply weapons, but they want the EU to pays for it. So how far?
– The EU and the US are factors. But we must proceed from our interests – to be minimally involved in this conflict.
– Our interest is clear – we are on the threshold of the euro, in order to become even more part of the EU?
– I have long maintained a position against premature adoption of the euro. I have experienced what it means to enter the eurozone. I was in Slovakia in 2006-2010. My mandate was from May 30, 2006 to June 30, 2010. And Slovakia entered the euro on January 1, 2009. I was a witness from beginning to end. Robert Fico, who adopted it during his first term as prime minister, then out of inexperience and audacity for party and national self-expression in the current international chaos, would hardly have dared.
The euro was introduced to lower the value of the production of large countries and increase their exports of final products - Germany, France, the Netherlands. The second motive was opposition to the dollar.
But Slovakia, when it introduced the euro, produced three car brands - Volkswagen, KIA and Peugeot. And yet at the conference “1 year with the euro“ (14.12.2010) political pride was reported as the main achievement.
And what do we export? We are sub-suppliers of parts. We do not produce final products for export. Our IT sector was hit by 34% in 2023.
According to IT specialist Dragomir Cholakov, analyses based on UN, OSCE and CIA open website criteria show that Bulgaria has moved from 26th place in 1988-1989 to 89th in 2019-2020 in terms of living standards; in terms of healthcare quality – from 6th to 82nd; in terms of education – from 2nd to 78th; in terms of technology – from 3rd to 116th. Freedom of speech has fallen from 68th to 70th. The euro makes no sense to us at this point. I have experienced it in Slovakia.
We do not have a date recorded in a document on which we are obliged to join.
Yes, we are in ERM II, but we are not ready. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland - countries with better economies - do not want to join. Romania has also realized this. The propaganda in our country that anyone who is against the euro is a "Russophile" or a "Putinophile" is ridiculous.
- Why do you say that we should not take sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, since we are in the EU?
- Because we have very serious internal problems to solve. The biggest is the demographic decline. And from a security point of view - Russian nuclear missiles are 300-500 km from us, and Washington is 10,000 km away. History shows that empires always negotiate among themselves, pitting smaller countries against each other. "Allies" are called when they are obedient; when they show character - become dictatorships, terrorists, etc.
Where will Bulgarians come from to have a stable state?
Through the return of emigrants, through people with Bulgarian roots in neighboring countries, Moldova, Ukraine. But we need strong services that can assess who will be loyal and learn the language.
The Poles and Hungarians have a strategy. Ours - not.
- Let's get back to the conflict in Ukraine. How do you see its development?
- We know very little about what is exactly happening. The disinformation is huge - bilateral, trilateral, plus Washington. I don't believe it will end soon. The only realistic - temporary truce.
It is fratricide. Both are Slavs. The most normal position is like Orban, Fico, some Austrian politicians - more neutral.
– NATO is consolidating over the conflict, but the US wants to increase military budgets…
– We joined NATO in 2004, but without a referendum. In the EU – 2007. The law on referendums was adopted only in 2009.
Other countries held referendums. Denmark joined with conditions. Sweden – with a referendum – kept the krona.
Croatia joined the eurozone and inflation soared. Youth is emigrating en masse.
Entering the euro now is a national crime, to put it mildly – political irresponsibility.
The budget is unstable, the deficits – large. We have a facade democracy. With two or three amendments to the referendum law, we will have direct democracy. Switzerland is an example. There, the people participate in power. Here - power lives on the backs of the people.