Foreign relations of Bulgaria

Bulgaria
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Bulgaria

Foreign relations of the Republic of Bulgaria are the Bulgarian government's external relations with the outside world. Bulgaria has generally good foreign relations with its neighbors and has proved to be a constructive force in the region under socialist and democratic governments alike. Promoting regional stability, Bulgaria hosted a Southeast European Foreign Ministers meeting in July 1996, and an OSCE conference on Black Sea cooperation in November 1995. Bulgaria also participated in the 1996 South Balkan Defense Ministerial in Albania and is active in the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative. Bulgaria's main focus is the Euro-Atlantic integration since 1997 and the efforts of the governments since then led to admission to NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007. Its main allies are Greece and Romania, while it maintains good relations with Serbia and the rest of the Balkans. Republic of Macedonia is very important state in Bulgarian foreign and internal policy due to the historical, ethnical and cultural connections.

Overview

With their close historical, cultural, and economic ties, Bulgaria seeks a mutually beneficial relationship with Russia, on which it is largely dependent for energy supplies. Sporadic negotiations are underway among Greece, Bulgaria, and Russia for construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline to transport Caspian Sea oil from the Black Sea port of Burgas to Alexandroupoli on the northern Aegean coast.

Bulgaria's EU Association Agreement came into effect in 1994, and Bulgaria formally applied for full EU membership in December 1995. During the 1999 EU summit in Helsinki, the country was invited to start membership talks with the Union. On January 1, 2007 Bulgaria officially became a member of the European Union. In 1996, Bulgaria acceded to the Wassenaar Arrangement controlling exports of weapons and sensitive technology to countries of concern and also was admitted to the World Trade Organization. Bulgaria is a member of the Zangger Committee and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. After a period of equivocation under a socialist government, in March 1997 a UDF-led caretaker cabinet applied for full NATO membership, which became a reality in April 2004.

Bulgaria and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2006 providing for military bases and training camps of the U.S. Army in Bulgaria, as part of the Pentagon's restructuring plan.

The HIV trial in Libya resulted in the release of Bulgarian nurses imprisoned by Muammar Gaddafi's government in Libya. French President Nicolas Sarkozy secured the release in exchange for several business deals.[1][2]

In November 2010, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov formally announced his team proposes to close seven embassies as part of a plan for restructuring and austerity measures.

Thus, in 2011, Bulgaria will most likely shut down its diplomatic missions in Sudan, Angola, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, Thailand, Mexico, and Tunisia. The choice is based on a scrutinizing financial analysis and on the necessity to optimize the diplomatic corps, the Ministry says. The staff of the Bulgarian diplomatic corps will be reduced by 15 people in total.

In June 2010, media reports claimed that Bulgaria considers closing a total of 30 of its diplomatic missions abroad. Currently, Bulgaria has 83 embassies, 6 permanent representations, 20 consular offices, and 2 diplomatic bureaus. The proposed closures have been backed by PM Borisov who described some of Bulgaria's embassies as useless.[3]

NATO

Flags of NATO, Bulgaria, European Union at the Military club of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Bulgaria joined NATO's Partnership for Peace in 1994 and applied for NATO membership in 1997. During the November 2002 Prague Summit Bulgaria was one of seven former socialist countries invited to join the Alliance. Bulgaria became a member of NATO in March 2004. The country is also working toward NATO compatibility in communications and training, and has established a Peacekeeping Training Center.

UN

In 2003, Bulgaria was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, proving to be one of 3 closest U.S. allies during the Iraqi Crisis, together with the UK and Spain. Bulgaria also presided the OSCE in 2004.

Illicit drugs

Major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals.

By country

Country Formal relations began Notes
 Afghanistan 1961-07-12
 Albania See Albania–Bulgaria relations
 Algeria 1964
 Angola 1975-11-20
  • Since 1976, Bulgaria has an embassy in Luanda.[9]
  • Angola is represented in Bulgaria through its embassy in Athens (Greece).[10]
 Argentina 1931
 Armenia 1992
 Australia 1972
 Austria 1878
 Azerbaijan1992-06-05
 Belarus1992-03-26
  • Bulgaria recognized Belarus on December 23, 1991.
  • Belarus has an embassy in Sofia and an honorary consulate in Burgas.[19]
  • Bulgaria has an embassy in Minsk.[20]
 Belize1994
  • Both countries have established diplomatic relations on 15 February 1994.[21]
  • Bulgaria is represented in Belize through its embassy in Mexico City.[22]
 Belgium1879
 Bosnia and Herzegovina1992-01-15
 Czech Republic1920-09-27
  • Relations were severed on June 1, 1939 and were restored on October 10, 1945.
  • On December 23, 1992, Bulgaria recognised the Czech Republic and established diplomatic relations with it at the level of embassies as of January 1, 1993.
  • Bulgaria has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Prague.[27]
  • Czech Republic has an embassy in Sofia and an honorary consulate in Varna.[28]
  • Both countries are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
 People's Republic of China1949-10-04
 Canada
 Colombia1973-05-08
  • Colombia is represented through its embassy in Warsaw (Poland), and counts with an honorary consulate in Sofia.
  • Bulgaria is represented in Colombia through its embassy in Caracas (Venezuela).[34]
 Croatia1992-08-13
 Cyprus see Bulgaria–Cyprus relations
 DenmarkSee Bulgaria–Denmark relations
 Dominica
  • Bulgaria is represented in Dominica through its embassy in Cuba.[37]
 Ecuador
  • Bulgaria has an honorary consulate in Quito.
 Egypt
 Estonia1921-05-20
 Finland1918-08-05
 France1879-07-08
 Georgia1992-06-05
 Germany
 Greece1908 see Greco-Bulgarian relations

Relations between Greece (the Hellenic Republic) and Bulgaria (the Republic of Bulgaria) have been very cordial since the 1950s, due to the strong cultural, political and religious ties between the two nations, preceded in the earlier 20th century by periods of intense mutual hostility. Since Bulgaria's independence in 1876, Greece and Bulgaria faced each other in three major wars: the Second Balkan War, the First World War and the Second World War, in which Bulgaria briefly occupied parts of northern Greece.

 Hungary1920See Bulgaria–Hungary relations
 India1954
 Indonesia1956-09-21 see Bulgaria–Indonesia relations

Bulgaria was among the States that recognized Indonesia's independence since its Proclamation of Independence on August 17, 1945. The two countries established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1956. Bulgaria has had an embassy in Jakarta since October 1958 and Indonesia has had an embassy in Sofia Since 1960.[44]

 Iran1897
 Iraq
 Ireland1990
 Israel
 Italy1879
 Japan1959
 Kazakhstan1992-07-05
  • Since 1994, Bulgaria has an embassy in Astana.[59]
  • Since November 2004, Kazakhstan has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Sofia.
 Kosovo2008-03-20

[61]

 Latvia
 Lebanon1966-09-19
 Libya
 Lithuania
 Republic of Macedonia
 Malta
  • Bulgaria is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome (Italy).[69]
  • Malta has 2 honorary consulates in Bulgaria (in Sofia and Varna).[70]
 Mexico1938-01-06 See Bulgaria–Mexico relations
 Moldova1992-02-05
 Mongolia1950-04-22 see Bulgaria–Mongolia relations
  • Until the beginning of the 1990s Bulgaria was Mongolia's 3rd biggest trading partner.
 Montenegro2006-08-02
 Morocco1961-09-01
 Netherlands
 Norway1906-08-21
  • Since April 1918, Bulgaria has an embassy in Oslo.[78]
  • Norway has an embassy in Sofia and an honorary consulate in Varna.[79]
 North Korea1948-11-29 Foreign relations of North Korea
 Pakistan1970 See Pakistan-Bulgarian relations
  • Since 1974, Bulgaria has an embassy in Islamabad.[80]
  • Pakistan reopened its embassy in Sofia. Pakistan has an embassy in Sofia.
 Paraguay1992-12-02
 Peru1969
  • Peru closed its embassy in Sofia for economic reasons in 2003. Peru is now represented in Bulgaria through its embassy in Athens (Greece).[82]
  • Bulgaria is represented in Peru through its embassy in Brasília (Brazil).[83]
 Poland1920s
 Portugal1925
  • Relations were severed in 1945 and were restored on June 24, 1974.
  • Bulgaria has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Lisbon.[86]
  • Portugal has an embassy in Sofia.[87]
 Romania see Bulgaria–Romania relations

Bulgarian relations with Romania featured regular official visits by the two presidents. Romanian-Bulgarian relations are developing "very intensively" because of EU accession, since Romania and Bulgaria joined together the European Union in 2007. Romania and Bulgaria have never had any serious conflicts, other than a territorial dispute over the Dobruja region in 1913-1940, now largely forgotten. Vidin and Calafat have perhaps the closest relations of any towns along this lower section of the Danube. There is a regular ferry service, so locals here have regular interchange with their neighbors across the border.

 Russia1879-07-07 see Bulgaria–Russia relations
 Serbia1879-01-18 see Bulgaria–Serbia relations
 Slovakia1993-01-01
  • Bulgaria recognized Slovakia on December 23, 1992.
  • Since February 1994, Bulgaria has an embassy in Bratislava.[90]
  • Since June 1994, Slovakia has an embassy in Sofia.[91]
 Slovenia
 South Africa1992-02-02
  • Bulgaria has an embassy in Pretoria
  • Since 1992, South Africa has an embassy in Sofia.[94]
 South Korea1990-03-23[95] See Bulgaria – South Korea relations
 Spain1910-05-08
 Sudan1956-07-01 see Bulgaria–Sudan relations

In 1967, Bulgaria sent the first Bulgarian ambassador to Khartoum. The activities of the Bulgarian embassy in Khartoum were terminated in April 1990, and later reestablished in March, 2005. In 2006 the general consulate of the Sudan, in Sofia, Bulgaria has been upgraded to the rank of embassy.[100]

 Sweden1914-07-06
  Switzerland1905
 Syria1954-07-24
 Thailand1974-04-10
  • Since 1975, Bulgaria has an embassy in Bangkok.[107]
  • Thailand has an honorary consulate in Sofia.[108]
  • There is a Thai Village in Bulgaria since 2006 [109]
 Tunisia1956
 Turkey
 Ukraine1992

Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations are characterized by a constant active political dialogue at the highest level. Ukraine and Bulgaria actively cooperate and provide mutual support within the framework of regional and international organizations, such as the BSEC, the Central European Initiative, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the United Nations.

Bulgaria, has confirmed readiness to promote the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. It occupies an important place in the Balkan direction of Ukraine's foreign policy interests, which is due to the geopolitical position of the country in the Balkans, the proximity of interests in the Black Sea and the Danube region. Ukraine and Bulgaria are united by ethnic, linguistic and religious components, traditional economic, trade and cultural-historical ties.

Bulgaria is an important market for Ukrainian products and the largest trade and economic partner of Ukraine in the Balkan region. In 2017, foreign trade between Ukraine and Bulgaria demonstrated growth dynamics.

 Uzbekistan1992-09-12 See Bulgaria–Uzbekistan relations

Bulgaria has an embassy in Tashkent.[117] Uzbekistan is represented in Bulgaria through a non resident ambassador based in Tashkent (in the Foreign Ministry.)[118] Bulgaria provides a link in the trade corridor between Uzbekistan and the European Union, with important Black Sea ports. The two countries are interested in expanding trade by this route.[119] However, despite repeated discussions on the subject, Uzbekistan has so far declined to supply natural gas to the Nabucco pipeline, which, if built, would feed gas to Europe via Bulgaria.[120]

 United Kingdom1879
 United States1903 See Bulgaria – United States relations

Bulgarian-American relations, first formally established in 1903, have moved from missionary activity and American support for Bulgarian independence in the late 19th century to the growth of trade and commerce in the early 20th century, to reluctant hostility during World War I and open war and bombardment in World War II, to ideological confrontation during the Cold War, to partnership with the United States in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and growing political, military and economic ties in the beginning of the 21st century.

 Vietnam1950-02-08

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Former French leader Sarkozy held over Libyan funding inquiry". Reuters. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "Gaddafi, Sarkozy Involved N-Plant Deal in Rescue of Bulgarian Medics – Report". Novinite. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "The Bulgaria 2010 Review: Diplomacy and Foreign Policy - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency".
  4. ↑ "Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Afghan embassy in Sofia".
  5. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  6. 1 2 Bulgaria. Embassy Pages.
  7. ↑ Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Bulgaria (in French only)
  8. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Algiers".
  9. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Luanda".
  10. ↑ "Untitled Page". www.angolanembassy.gr.
  11. ↑ "List of Treaties ruling relations Argentina and Bulgaria (Argentine Foreign Ministry, in Spanish)".
  12. ↑ Bulgarian embassy in Yerevan Archived December 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "Bulgaria". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  14. ↑ "The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Canberra". www.bulgaria.org.au.
  15. ↑ "Austrian Foreign Ministry: list of bilateral treaties with Bulgaria (in German only)".
  16. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  17. ↑ "技術力を太陽光発電台湾". www.azerembsof.com.
  18. ↑ "Embassy of Bulgaria in Azerbaijan - VisaHQ". bulgaria.visahq.com.
  19. ↑ "belembassy.org - This website is for sale! - Посольства адреса координаты Resources and Information". www.belembassy.org.
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  21. ↑ "Diplomatic relations list" (PDF). www.mfa.gov.bz.
  22. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи - Намери посолство". Министерство на външните работи.
  23. ↑ "Diplomatie.be". www.diplomatie.be.
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  25. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Sarajevo".
  26. ↑ "Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Bosnian embassy in Sofia".
  27. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  28. ↑ "Czech Republic embassy in Sofia".
  29. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  30. ↑ "Embassy Of The People's Republic Of China In The Republic Of Bulgaria". www.chinaembassy.bg.
  31. ↑ Bulgarian embassy in Ottawa Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  32. ↑ "BG Consultores". www.bgconsultor.com.
  33. ↑ Canadian Foreign Affairs and International Trade Office about the relations with Bulgaria Archived 2009-01-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  34. ↑ http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/international/regions/europe/union/member/bulgaria
  35. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  36. ↑ "MVPEI". 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19.
  37. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи - Намери посолство". Министерство на външните работи.
  38. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  39. ↑ "Georgian embassy in Sofia".
  40. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Berlin (in German and Bulgarian only)".
  41. ↑ "German embassy in Sofia (in German and Bulgarian only)".
  42. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  43. ↑ "Embassy of India, Sofia, Bulgaria". www.indembsofia.org.
  44. ↑ Official Website of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Sofia, Bulgaria Archived 2009-06-26 at the Wayback Machine.
  45. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  46. ↑ "Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Iranian embassy in Sofia".
  47. ↑ Iranian embassy in Sofia Archived 2009-05-13 at the Wayback Machine.
  48. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  49. ↑ "Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Iraqi embassy in Sofia".
  50. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  51. ↑ "Bulgaria - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". www.embassyofireland.bg.
  52. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Tel Aviv".
  53. ↑ "Israeli embassy in Sofia".
  54. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Rome".
  55. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  56. ↑ Italian embassy in Sofia
  57. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  58. ↑ "redirect". www.bg.emb-japan.go.jp.
  59. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Almaty".
  60. ↑ "Sofia Officially Recognizes Pristina Sovereignty". novinite.com. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  61. ↑ "Bulgaria to Issue Visas in Pristina", BalkanInsight.com, 27 May 2008. Link accessed 2008-05-27.
  62. ↑ "Bulgarian Foreign Ministry: direction of the Bulgarian honorary consulate in Riga".
  63. ↑ "Bulgarian Foreign Ministry: direction of the Latvian honorary consulate in Sofia".
  64. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  65. ↑ "Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Lebanese embassy in Sofia".
  66. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Vilnius".
  67. ↑ "Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign affairs".
  68. ↑ Bulgarian Policies on the Republic of Macedonia: Recommendations on the development of good neighbourly relations following Bulgaria’s accession to the EU and in the context of NATO and EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. Sofia: Manfred Wörner Foundation, 2008. 80 pp. (Trilingual publication in Bulgarian, Macedonian and English) ISBN 978-954-92032-2-6
  69. ↑ "Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs".
  70. ↑ "Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs".
  71. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". www.mfa.bg.
  72. ↑ "Inicio". embamex.sre.gob.mx.
  73. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  74. ↑ "Error 404". www.mfa.gov.md.
  75. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Rabat".
  76. ↑ Bulgarian embassy The Hague Archived June 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  77. ↑ Dutch embassy Sofia Archived December 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  78. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  79. ↑ Norwegian embassy in Sofia Archived 2004-07-10 at the Wayback Machine.
  80. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Islamabad".
  81. ↑ Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Relations Archived 2009-06-01 at the Wayback Machine.
  82. ↑ "Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Relations about relations with Bulgaria (in Spanish only)".
  83. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  84. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  85. ↑ "Ambasada RP w Sofii". www.polamba-bg.org.
  86. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  87. ↑ "Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: direction of the Portuguese embassy in Sofia".
  88. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  89. ↑ "Russian embassy in Sofia".
  90. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  91. ↑ Slovakia has an embassy in Sofia Archived 2012-07-18 at the Wayback Machine.
  92. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  93. ↑ Slovenian Foreign Ministry: directions of diplomatic representation of both countries Archived 2007-11-26 at the Wayback Machine.
  94. ↑ "South African Embassy in Sofia".
  95. 1 2
  96. ↑ Bulgarian embassy in Seoul Archived July 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  97. ↑ South Korean embassy in Sofia Archived March 13, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  98. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Madrid".
  99. ↑ Spanish embassy in Sofia (in Bulgarian and Spanish only) Archived 2008-04-23 at the Wayback Machine.
  100. ↑ "Bulgarian-Sudanese Diplomatic Relations". Sudan Embassy in Bulgaria. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  101. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  102. ↑ "Swedish embassy in Sofia".
  103. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  104. ↑ "Schweizerische Botschaft in Bulgarien". www.eda.admin.ch.
  105. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  106. ↑ Syrian embassy in Sofia
  107. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Bangkok".
  108. ↑ "Thailand Opens Sofia Consulate with Unique Royal Decree - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency".
  109. ↑ "Thai Village in Bulgaria".
  110. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Tunis".
  111. ↑ Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Bulgaria (in French only)
  112. ↑ "Embassy of Bulgaria in Turkey - VisaHQ". bulgaria.visahq.com.
  113. ↑ Turkish embassy in Sofia Archived August 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  114. ↑ "Bulgaria's Parliament recognizes the Armenian Genocide". Standart. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  115. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  116. ↑ "Ukraine s Honorary Consulate to open in Burgas".
  117. ↑ "Bulgarian embassy in Tashkent". Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  118. ↑ "Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Archived from the original on 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  119. ↑ "Uzbek-Bulgarian Relations Are Developing Dynamically". Turkish Weekly. February 24, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  120. ↑ "Uzbekistan Not Interested in Supplying Natural Gas for Nabucco". Novinite Sofia News Agency. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2009-05-05.
  121. ↑ Bulgarian embassy in London
  122. ↑ "British embassy in Sofia".
  123. ↑ "Министерство на външните работи". Министерство на външните работи.
  124. ↑ admin. "- Bulgaria". www.mofa.gov.vn.
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