Bulgarian ambassadors to face hearings in Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee
03 July 2013 News
Bulgarian ambassadors should be required to attend hearings by the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee before they are appointed. This was discussed by members of the committee and Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin, who attended a meeting of the committee at its invitation to give MPs a presentation on the priorities in his activities.
"For me, co-operation and good communication with the National Assembly and the Foreign Affairs Committee is really important. I have promised that the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be fully transparent. An element of this is the decision that has been taken toco-ordinate and hold discussions with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, particularly with regard to sensitive issues, for which both parliamentary backing and the support of Bulgarian societyare important,” Minister Vigenintold reporters after the briefing.
There will be continuity in our foreign policy, but with a refocusing of priorities.
"Bulgaria should be a full EU member and active participant in its decision-making. In this regard, we are working on improving the mechanism for coordination, mechanisms for discussion of important political and economic decisions that are taken in the Union and the prospects for our country to more effectively defend its priorities,” the minister said. He said that Bulgaria’s regional policy would focus on two points: the Western Balkans, and more generally - Southeast Europe and the Black Sea region, with a strong emphasis on the policy of the Eastern Partnershipof the EU. “These are issues that are very important for Bulgaria, because here our role can be much greater than it was before. Opportunities for political, economic and cultural co-operation with countries in these regions are significant, but have not been well used so far,” the Foreign Ministersaid.
Kristian Vigenin said that another important priority was a more dynamic and effective policy on Bulgarians abroad, both communities that arose historically abroad and new Bulgarian emigrants. He said that the foundation that has been laid by previous governments and Vice President Margarita Popova should be developed, together with new ideas to be included in the overall strategy.
"I will work to have a professional, efficient diplomatic service in which diplomats feel sufficiently motivated and prepared to defend Bulgaria’s interests. I will keep to a minimum attempts, if any, to put political pressure on the Ministry’s activities. I will do so, at very least, to reduce political appointments of ambassadors. If exceptions are made, they will be for people who have sufficient weight and are influential and prominent figures in Bulgaria,” Minister Vigenin said.