(22 Nov 1999) Bulgarian/English
On his first ever visit to Bulgaria, U-S President Bill Clinton praised this former communist nation for its commitment to democracy, economic reform and progress.
Clinton's two-day visit to Bulgaria is designed to underscore Bulgaria's progress in democracy following the collapse of communism in 1989 and to encourage the government to stay on its course toward closer relations with Europe and the United States.
Bill Clinton's visit to Sofia is a symbolic one - this is the first ever visit by a U-S president since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1901.
The U-S President, keen to acknowledge a part of Bulgaria's history in which it was allied to the United States, lay a wreath at a World War I memorial on Monday.
Shortly afterwards he met with Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov.
During a Press conference with President Stoyanov, Clinton thanked Bulgaria for their help during the Kosovo conflict and expressed the United States commitment to supporting Bulgaria.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"First of all I am very grateful for the support the allies received during the conflict with Kosovo and for the direction taken by Bulgaria under this President, under this government and we are committed to supporting Bulgaria over the long run, economically, politically and militarily. I think we will be doing it for many years and I am looking forward to that "
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
Bulgaria, which aspires to one day joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, supported NATO's air war over Kosovo by permitting U-S and allied warplanes to fly over its territory.
It also is supporting U-N economic sanctions against Yugoslavia, a policy that has taken a heavy toll on the already weak Bulgarian economy.
President Clinton is flying to Kosovo on Tuesday to express support for NATO and U-N efforts to build peace between Serbs and ethnic Albanians, and to examine the progress of reconstruction there, five months after the NATO air war.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"In Kosovo tomorrow I will make a very strong statement about the importance of everyone getting over this ethnic hatred and going beyond it. We have all made a big commitment to Kosovo's economic and political reconstruction. But I think it is very important that Kosovo in effect does not become the mirror image of Serbia. It's hard not to. But it's important not to and we'll keep working on it. "
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
The Bulgarian President welcomed President Clinton's visit, which is meant to highlight the problems and the progress in Bulgaria, which has moved toward democracy and market reforms.
SOUNDBITE: (Bulgarian)
"It's is important that through the American people, through the eyes of the American President, the American people will realise that the Bulgarian people have embarked on a new role and chosen a new policy, that of democracy, of respect for human rights. And that also through its good relations with all of its neighbours and the absence of ethnic problems, Bulgaria will be an example of stability in the region and will continue to be so."
SUPER CAPTION: Petar Stoyanov, Bulgarian President
The U-S president is nearing the end of a 10-day European tour designed in part to promote democracy and ethnic tolerance in the Balkans.
Bulgaria, formerly a communist nation held its first fully democratic parliamentary elections in November 1991.
Kostov, who was elected president in 1996, has steered the country to economic stabilisation with lower inflation and free-market reforms.
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