Military

DATE=3/29/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BULGARIA/NATO (LO)

NUMBER=2-314562

BYLINE=BARRY WOOD

DATELINE=SOFIA

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Bulgaria is among several former communist countries that are to join NATO later this week, in the western defense alliance's second eastward expansion since the end of the cold war. V-O-A's Barry Wood has been in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, and reports there is broad public support for joining NATO, and perhaps in three years the European Union.

TEXT: Bulgaria is planning a huge party this weekend to celebrate its new NATO membership. A national holiday is being declared (April 2). A special stamp is being issued. And a celebratory concert will take place Friday.

NATO membership has proven to be very popular in Bulgaria, a Balkan country with historically very close ties to Russia. In fact, support for joining NATO and the European Union is much higher in Bulgaria than in most other accession countries.

When parliament voted earlier this month on NATO accession, only four of the 230 members opposed it. This near-unanimous vote reflects the popularity of western institutions across the political spectrum in Bulgaria, as even the former communists voted in favor.

Public-opinion surveys show that 69-percent of Bulgarians support NATO membership. That is a 10-percentage-point increase during the past 12 months.

Concerning the European Union, support is even stronger. Surveys show 80-percent public support. That is in line with what Sofia residents spending a quiet Sunday in a city park told this reporter. Ivan Tomov is a 17-year-old student of English.

/// TOMOV ACT ///

European Union, yes. Because in some way the trade connections with the other countries will help. But I have no opinion about NATO.

/// END ACT ///

The European Union takes in 10 new countries on May first, eight of which are in Eastern Europe. Bulgaria is not among them. But E-U officials hold out the possibility of Bulgaria joining in 2007. Petar Kirov is a painter, who in a long career has shown his work in dozens of world capitals. He too supports Bulgaria's western orientation.

/// KIROV ACT ///

Yes, it will be. It is obviously the future. There is no other way. We are part of Europe and we will be there.

/// END ACT ///

Bulgaria's economy is doing well as western investors are putting a lot of fresh money into the country. Last year, Bulgaria registered more than four-percent growth and attracted one-point-three-billion dollars in foreign investment. (SIGNED)

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