H.E Jose Angel Lopez Jorrin has been Spain's Ambassador to Bulgaria since 2001. He was Spain's Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1997 to 2001. Before that he worked as deputy director of Western Europe at the Foreign Office. He also worked as a diplomat in Caracas, Venezuela, Peru and the Netherlands. H.E Jorrin is a law graduate who started his diplomatic career in 1974.
H.E Jose Angel Lopez Jorrin spoke with Milena Hristova, novinite.com Editor-in-Chief
Q: Bulgaria's Interior Chief Secretary Gen. Boyko Borisov was awarded in Spain by the country's Interior Minister Angel Acebes during the celebrations of the National Police Day. How will this impact the joint operations of the two countries' police services?
A: The award was an expression of an ever-closer cooperation and was a much-needed recognition. In the last few years the links and ties between our two governments and Interior ministries have increased. We are participating as leader partners in several twinning project with the Interior Ministry and have just inaugurated one on the Information System, there is another one to come in the next few months. We have exchanged in the last months interior attaches in both our embassies, which is already giving results.
International cooperation in this field is more and more necessary. Bulgaria and Spain are situated at both incoming ends of Europe - Bulgaria is a gateway from Southeast, Spain - gateway from Southwest, which makes them very vulnerable to criminal rings, seeking to penetrate Europe.
In boosting our cooperation we enhance both our own security and that of Europe. I am glad to say that the whole ministry has contributed a lot in that.
Q: What is Bulgaria's image in Spain? Did the visit of King Juan Carlos manage to promote it?
A: Bulgaria's image in Spain is ambivalent and the visit of the Head of the State delivered the message that the positive aspects are more important than the negative ones.
Bulgarians are involved in rings known for stealing cars, changing plates, counterfeiting disks but there are other foreign communities involved in that as well. This is also something that happens in other countries as well.
There is also an important Bulgarian community in Spain, which is well appreciated because of their industriousness and willingness to progress. Clean capitals are being invested in the coast and joint ventures with Spanish companies. The cooperation of our Interior Ministries is getting closer in tackling illegal traffic of persons and drug combat.
Q: How would you comment reports that the visit of Spanish King Juan Carlos I to Bulgaria restored his role in the country's foreign policy? How was the move commented by Spanish political analysts?
A: The visit of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia to Bulgaria had a very particular meaning, namely to highlight Spain's support for Bulgaria's integration in NATO and the European Union. The first official state visit of the royal couple to Bulgaria occurred ten years ago and usually it takes much longer until a second visit comes. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia decided it was the proper time to visit Bulgaria and Romania now to show that both countries belong to the fifth enlargement of the European Union. It was a token of appreciation and also a message to the Spanish political and business class to show that this country is going to become very soon our partner.
They made a point of coming to the country accompanied by a big delegation of Spanish entrepreneurs and businessmen, which is the field we should develop most.
Interest in this respect has been growing over the last few years, while the political activities in Bulgaria are becoming more and more of actuality now that we have come to realize that we are very close to each other in many aspects and share the same values.
The visit - a very symbolic and for that reason important trip - was commented very positively in Spain.
Q: One more question on Bulgaria's political life that has triggered quite a controversy in the country and abroad. Do you think an eventual appointment of Brigo Asparuhov will hurt Bulgaria's prestige and its chances to join NATO?
A: I will abstain of making any comments on the possibility of Mr Asparuhov being appointed to the post. I can tell you that NATO, EU and Spain as a member country of both organizations want Bulgaria in. We know that Bulgaria can be a very faithful and very important member of these two organizations. Bulgaria knows what the rules are, the communication between the governments is very fluid. I would recommend what someone else said before me - let's try to keep this controversy down because it probably will be solved.
Q: In what way could Spain's economic development be an example for Bulgaria on its way to EU?
A: Spain joined the EU comparatively recently in 1986, which is less than twenty years ago. We also went through a transition period, came from one authoritarian system and had to join the democratic principles and the rule of state, which took severe adjustments in certain aspects, including the economic.
For Spain joining the EU was a big effort and a big success and we are willing to share our experience with our Bulgarian friends. We try to transmit our own experience in the structural and cohesion funds, changing the administration, reforms in justice, police, public services.
Q: Spain celebrates its national holiday October 12. How will the day be marked in Spain and in Sofia?
A: On October 12 we commemorate a historic and a Christian festivity - the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the three Spanish ships to America, as well as the Feast of the Virgin. A military parade, presided by the King and all the principle powers of the state, marks the holiday in Spain, which is also a family holiday. A traditional cocktail, exhibitions, seminars and conferences mark the day in Sofia. This year on October 10 we are going to offer Bulgaria a concert of Spanish music, performed by young Bulgarian musicians of the Junior Classic FM Orchestra.
Q: How do you plan to boost cultural cooperation with Bulgaria?
A: We have prepared two very important exhibitions this year and plan to launch a big cultural campaign next year, particularly designed for Bulgaria as EU candidate country. It is rather easy for us to do cultural activities in Bulgaria since there is a lot of interest here. We are trying to diversify that in the publishing industry and take the activities out of Sofia. The future of these relations are the people who are learning Spanish, the fastest growing foreign language after English in Bulgaria.
Q: How did Bulgaria change over the last two and a half years that you have been here?
A: When I came here Bulgaria had already gone a long way up but my own experience shows that Bulgaria has progressed. One can see it in the streets, in the newspapers, in the growing internal investments. I am well aware that Bulgarians still face many difficulties, but this is part of the price you have to pay. What matters most is the consistency in what is being done, which is in the right directions.
Send to Kindle
Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (novinite.com)
