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AFP. 19 January 2002. New Bulgarian president vows EU, NATO aims. SOFIA -- Bulgaria's new President Georgy Parvanov was sworn in Saturday and reiterated his aim to lead the country in catching up with other ex-communist states to join the EU and NATO. "Joining the European Union and NATO are strategic objectives," the former communist, who was elected head of state in November, said in an address to parliament. He pledged to work for "an acceleration of EU membership negotiations" so that Bulgaria could "catch up" with other EU membership candidates in central and eastern Europe. Bulgaria, along with neighbouring Romania, is at the back of the queue of 12 mostly ex-communist countries hoping for EU entry, and is also among nine candidates hoping to be invited to join NATO later this year. Parvanov expressed confidence that Bulgaria would become a member of NATO "during my mandate and with my signature," and noted Sofia's role in stabilizing the Balkan region and fighting terrorism. Bulgaria is taking part in the international security force in Afghanistan. On the EU, he said he hopes that when the EU begins its next stage of enlargement, expected by 2004, it would "adopt a wider political approach, taking into account Bulgaria's efforts for the security of the region and the losses it has suffered," notably due to wars in the former Yugoslavia. Parvanov, ex-leader of the former Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), was sworn in in the presence of the head of the Orthodox church, Patriarch Maxim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
