28 February 2003
Evans Discusses Iraq, U.S.-Bulgarian Economic Ties in TV Interview
(Commerce Secretary on Bulgarian National Television (BNT) (1960) U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans said during a television interview in Sofia, Bulgaria February 28 that the U.S. interest in disarming Iraq and seeing a regime change there is about "protecting individual freedoms, which we have defended for over 200 years in our country." He added that "I hope this doesn't require military action. The President hopes this does not require military action." Evans was in Sofia as part of a three-country trip to Europe -- which also included Romania and Slovakia -- aimed at reaffirming the Bush Administration's commitment to stronger economic and commercial ties between the nations. He noted that the Commerce Department has affirmed that Bulgaria is a market-based economy -- which he said is "a very powerful signal to private industry and the private sector back in America, that this is a friendly environment for investing -- and he announced a trade mission this year to Bulgaria. Evans praised Bulgaria's "professional leaders, leaders with a vision, leaders that are positive about the future of this country, determined to continue to lead this country to enter the international economy, make it a stronger member of the international economy, focused on economic growth for the good people of Bulgaria." On Iraq, he said the United States appreciates "the fact that this country has taken a principled position in terms of the war on terrorism and in terms of their position on Iraq." Following is a transcript of the press availability provided by the U.S. Embassy Sofia: (begin transcript) U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY DON EVANS PANORAMA TALK SHOW ON BULGARIAN NATIONAL TELEVISION (BNT) Friday, February 28, 2003 Sofia, Bulgaria BNT Moderator, Boyko Vassilev: Secretary Evans, you met the Bulgarian PM in Washington and you had several meetings here in Sofia. What are your impressions of the Bulgarian leaders and, first of all, of the Bulgarian stance on the global agenda right now? Is Washington insisting that Bulgaria should follow United States foreign policy in every detail? SOC: Well let me talk about the leaders first. You're right; I had the pleasure to meet with the PM in my office earlier in the week and had the honor to meet with him again today. I had the honor, also, to meet the President today. And a number of members of the cabinet of the President and the Prime Minister. This country has terrific leaders. Professional leaders, leaders with a vision, leaders that are positive about the future of this country, determined to continue to lead this country to enter the international economy, make it a stronger member of the international economy, focused on economic growth for the good people of Bulgaria. That really should be the focus of any leader in the world because it is economic growth that provides for the people to have a job, a better job, so they can provide for their families at home. Let me just say how impressed I am with the leadership of this great country, and how much I look forward to working with them and how our country looks forward to working with them to strengthen our economic relationship and partnership. Let me tell you how much President Bush trusts the leadership of this country. And you can't accomplish great things without trust; that's where it all begins. As you know the President visited with the Prime Minister earlier this week. We have strong relations between our countries. It's a relationship built on trust, first and foremost, and friendship, and our friendship and partnership will continue to strengthen in the years ahead. I want all the people of Bulgaria to know how much we appreciate the fact that they are standing shoulder to shoulder with us on the war on terrorism. It is a defining moment in the history of the world to defend freedom for all people around the world. BNT: But does the President count on Bulgaria's support in the Security Council now and does America want Bulgaria to follow directly and strictly? Is it fair if Bulgaria has to choose between two kinds of allies, between the United States and between France and Germany on the other side? Isn't it rather an embarrassing choice? SOC: I don't think so in the sense that I think you can be not only a loyal member of NATO, which this country will soon be, a respected member of the EU, which I think this country will soon be. I congratulate this country for pursuing and implementing the necessary reforms to become a member of NATO and a future member of the EU. You can be a respected member in NATO and a loyal member in the EU, also be a friend of America, and also take a position for freedom and peace all around the world. We certainly are encouraging Bulgaria's support for the United States decision in the Security Council as well as the UN. We appreciate the fact that this country has taken a principled position in terms of the war on terrorism and in terms of their position on Iraq, and I know that they have received firm pressure from their neighbors. BNT: You're talking about the war, if there's a war, over Iraq. Many people in the world think that if there will be a war it will be an unjust war. I would like to point to a detail in your C.V. [curriculum vitae], you worked in the oil industry. Is it all about oil in Iraq? SOC: It's all about freedom. It's all about peace. It's all about the people of this world having what is their God-given right, which are freedoms, so that's what this is about. America feels very strongly about protecting individuals' rights to freedom, that includes the good people of Iraq. It includes people all around the world, and that's what all this is about -- protecting individual freedoms, which we have defended for over 200 years in our country. BNT: On Bulgaria, do you think from your point of view that Bulgaria has a chance to get back its $1.7 billion [$1,700 million] owed to it by Iraq? SOC: First of all, I hope we don't go to war. First of all, I hope this doesn't require military action. The President hopes this does not require military action. If it does, then those are some of the issues that will be addressed on down the road and I would say it's premature to address those kinds of issues now. BNT: During the transition period, Bulgaria received a lot of good words. Words like you said today about Bulgaria, about this country, words also about the Bulgarian political transition. Bulgaria kept by the international community in difficult times including painful embargoes, but the West, including the USA, is reluctant to invest massively here. Mr. Secretary, is this going to change? SOC: I'm optimistic we are headed in the right direction. You do have American companies that are investing, for example, American Standard being one of those companies investing here. Today I announced that the Department of Commerce has affirmed that Bulgaria is a market-based economy. That's a very powerful signal to private industry and the private sector back in America, that this is a friendly environment for investing. The Department of Commerce will lead a trade mission to Bulgaria later in the year where we will be bringing some dozen or more business leaders from our country to Bulgaria to look at the opportunities that exist here. And there are vast opportunities that exist here. We're going to continue a variety of programs that we're using to encourage investment in Bulgaria, encourage and open up trade between our two countries, encourage more commercial activity between our two countries. It takes time, but know that we're committed to it. Know that America understands friendship. Know that America understands that Bulgaria is our friend and the people of Bulgaria are our friends and we trust you. It's on that kind of trusting friendship and relationship that we will see growing commercial activities and economic actives between our two countries. BNT: Of course, the Administration cannot force American businesses to invest in Bulgaria. What could you do to help investment? SOC: You make a very good point. As I like to say, capital is a coward. And capital will only to go to places that offer a friendly environment. We will continue to encourage investment here, encourage the kind of reforms that are necessary to provide for a friendly environment in Bulgaria for investment. That's the key, because we don't write the checks, or governments don't write the checks, the private sector writes the checks. And it's the private sector that will make the decisions whether or not they will invest in a country or invest in an economy. They will invest if they see opportunity. They will invest if they see certainty and transparency. They will invest if they see a dependable judicial system. They will invest if they see no corruption. And so what we will continue to encourage is creating the environment that will attract American capital. BNT: One question which has both commercial and economic implications. Is the Administration, is the United States, planning to move some of its military personnel or bases from Germany to places like Bulgaria? SOC: I know that's been discussed, and I'm not sure the details of it. Let me just say again: thank you to the people of Bulgaria. Because not only has this great country and the good people of this country been supporting America in word but they've been supporting America, the American position with respect to the war on terrorism and with respect to our position on Iraq in deeds, by providing some of their resources as well as some bases for instance as well as some of the people, the good people of this country. I'm not privy to the specific bases or the specific resources that are being talked about. I'm sure nothing has even been determined yet. But I do know that the commitment of Bulgarians goes much beyond their words. And they are, through their deeds and through their action, taking a very principled decision in support of the American position in world affairs right now. BNT: One last question, Secretary Evans. You know very well the President personally and even come from the state where he has been working so long. What do you think is his leading motivation in handling the very difficult times, the very difficult crisis we face right now? Is it emotion, is it conviction, is it American self-interest, is it the global economic agenda? What is it? SOC: It's about leading this world to a place of peace and prosperity. That's all it is about. It is leading the world to a place that we would all want our children and our grandchildren to call home. A world that is safe and secure and people are prosperous and have a good job. I mean that's what the President's motivation is. He knows that you cannot have economic growth and economic security without international security and international safety because capital and economies cannot flourish if you don't have security. It requires a secure environment in order for an economy to grow and provide the kind of jobs that the people of this world deserve. And it's also about, as I said earlier, protecting and preserving all individuals' freedoms because we know that's our God-given right, our individual freedoms. And so it's about the future peace and prosperity of this world. It's about protecting everybody's freedoms in this world. (end transcript) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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