Future US Ambassador to Bulgaria Outlines Priorities before Senate

Deepining cooperation on international security, and assisting in Bulgaria’s military modernization are the top priorities of the new US Ambassador to Sofia, James Warlick.

Warlick spoke Wednesday during the official hearing before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The Committee is to approve Warlick's official nomination by President Obama to become Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria.

Warlick further announced that his second priority would be to promote energy security through transparency, diversification of supplies, and energy efficiency .

Other priorities listed by the future Ambassador are: support for Bulgaria’s efforts to promote the rule of law and implement legal and judicial reforms to combat corruption and organized crime; expanding bilateral trade and economic relations, helping US businesses to find investment and marketing opportunities and encouraging Bulgaria to strengthen and improve its business climate; and, developing deeper ties of cooperation through people-to-people programs.

In his speech Warlick gave high praise to Bulgaria's efforts in Afghanistan and the bilateral relations between the two countries.

"If confirmed, I will continue to build a relationship based on mutual respect and a deep friendship between the people of Bulgaria and the United States. I will listen to Bulgarian concerns and be an advocate for America and our values," Warlick said.

The full text of James Warlick's address read here.

The Republican Senator Jim DeMint is reported as noting during the hearing that Bulgaria's support for the American army and NATO's missions is vital and voicing hopes the friendship with Bulgaria would deepen even further, especially in the light of possible future frictions in the Black Sea Region.

DeMint pointed out that the US commitments in Central and Eastern Europe have helped a great deal the success of the democratic transition, adding that without America's leading role, the region could experience a slow down in democratic changes or even make some steps back.

The Committee asked the Nominee to become the next US Ambassador to Bulgaria about his views on energy security and the Bulgarian economy.

In response Warlick pointed out that Bulgaria's energy sector is 90% dependent on Russian supplies – a fact that reflects on the political relations between the two countries, but explained the current Bulgarian cabinet is well aware if this fact and makes efforts to diversify energy sources such as the “Nabucco” gas line, wind and solar energy, “clean” coal and others. The Nominee further stressed on the importance of improving the effectiveness and the transparency of the mining industry in Bulgaria.

Regarding Bulgaria's economy, James Warlick said the expectations are that the Gross Domestic Product will go down while the unemployment rate would climb higher than the current 8%, but pointed out that as a whole Bulgaria's economy is stable without a need for a loan from the international Monetary Fund while the 10% business tax makes the country an attractive investment location.

During the same hearing, the Senators also listened to the speech of Mary Bruce Warlick, the spouse of James Warlick, who has been nominated by President Obama to become the next US Ambassador to Serbia.

The Committee pointed out that the simultaneous nominations of two members of one same family is a historical moment for the US.