Spoke in the wheel of signing of Bulgaria’s security agreement with Ukraine
The scheduled signing of a 10-year security agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine appears doomed not to go ahead for now after it became clear that it would not get sufficient support in Bulgaria’s Parliament, with the largest parliamentary group, Boiko Borissov’s GERB-UDF, among those opposed, along with pro-Kremlin parties.
The agreement commits Bulgaria to a 10-year obligation to provide military aid and training, as well as support for Ukrainian refugees.
The agreement was approved in principle by the caretaker government on October 2, and on the eve of the scheduled December 19 signing, it emerged that Bulgaria’s caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev had written to parliamentary groups asking for a mandate to proceed with the signing.
The Bulgarian government information service had posted on its official website that the signing would take place during a European Council meeting, by Glavchev and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
But in Parliament, support was voiced by only two groups – the reformist We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning of Delyan Peevski, the figure sanctioned by the US and UK over corruption, and around whom WCC – DB wants a cordon sanitaire thrown.
The signing was opposed by pro-Kremlin party Vuzrazhdane, the Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left and populist-nationalist Mech, which also opposes Bulgarian support for Ukraine.
Centre-right GERB-UDF, objected, claiming that the moment chosen by Glavchev was “extremely unfortunate for us”. This was a reference to talks being conducted by GERB-UDF on getting a government elected.
GERB-UDF has been portraying itself as trying to negotiate an elected government with WCC-DB component Democratic Bulgaria, the BSP – United Left and populist party ITN. GERB-UDF, which styles itself as Euro-Atlantic, has stated policies in sharp contrast to those of BSP – United Left, which parrots the pro-Russian line of wanting “peace”.
GERB-UDF MP Daniel Mitov said that at the end of the life of this caretaker government, a text was being proposed that would cause too “heated dynamics”.
“We are currently holding talks to form a solid parliamentary majority to elect a cabinet with a four-year term in office, and such a proposal could even hinder the negotiation process and create undesirable dynamics,” Mitov said, calling on Glavchev to withdraw the agreement.
“Such a decision should be made by a regular cabinet, and not now to engage in polemics and then a regular cabinet to wonder whether to change the parameters,” Mitov said, referring to an agreement that had been approved by the caretaker government in November and that had been discussed this week – as The Sofia Globe reported earlier – by the caretaker Defence and Foreign ministers with the Ukrainian ambassador, Olesya Ilashchuk.
Glavchev told reporters: “If we gather a majority in the National Assembly, I will sign it”.
“I consider it normal for a caretaker government, and a regular one, to consult with members of Parliament about what it is doing. I have no concerns about the agreement, as it is legally non-binding and political and does not fall within the scope of treaties that are subject to ratification by the National Assembly,” Glavchev said.
He said that he is only concerned about the 10-year term.
Glavchev said that Ukraine was “showing understanding”.
“We are waiting for the National Assembly to take a position, if it does not take a position, it (the agreement) will not be signed.”
Glavchev said that this is a security agreement that six countries from all EU member states have not yet signed – Bulgaria, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus.
He said that the agreement is more of a political declaration and could always be withdrawn by a regular government.
“There is a chance to form a regular government. Even one month is not fatal for it to be signed by a regular government that enjoys support,” Glavchev said
“If GERB does not support it, or if a majority is not gathered in the National Assembly, I will not sign the agreement, categorically. I cannot take on this responsibility without political support. We are being scolded from all sides,” he said.
(Photo of Glavchev: government.bg)
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