UK Ambassador to Sofia H.E. Jeremy Hill spoke to Kiril Valchev from Darik Radio days before he departs from Bulgaria.
Ambassador Hill started his career in the Diplomatic Service in 1982 when he was appointed Assistant Legal Adviser. From 1987 to 1990 Hill was Legal Adviser at the British Embassy in Bonn and between 1991 and 1995 he worked as Legal Counsellor in the Attorney General's Office in London. Jeremy Hill's next appointment (1995-1998) was as a Counsellor for the Legal, Justice and Home Affairs in Brussels. From 1999 to 2001 he headed the Southern European Department in the FCO, and thereafter he was appointed Ambassador to Vilnius. He presented his credentials to President Georgi Parvanov on February 18, 2004.
Q: When are you leaving, Mr. Hill?
A: I would be leaving Bulgaria next Tuesday, September 25, it will be my last day.
Q: What is the biggest difference you find in Bulgaria since then?
A: I think it is difficult to notice one big change when you are living here. But I have noticed changes and particularly now here in Sofia as people are back from holidays and the children are back at school. There are signs of greater economic and professional activity; there seem to be more cars on the road, more restaurants and cafes open. I think the advertising and marketing is sharper, and I think business has become more competitive, more international. People have more confidence. The European Union offers more challenge but also more opportunity for greater political and economic development and I think people appreciate that.
Q: What hasn't changed?
A: Talking more generally, I think life in the countryside has been slower to change than life in the towns. Regarding specific issues such as reform of the judicial system and the fight against organized crime I believe there has been progress. There has been more legislation and a better framework for judicial reform put in place. There is clearly still more results to be expected but I believe some results have already been achieved.
Q: What was your personal achievement? Recently you told our Foreign Minister your biggest success was the big amount of British tourists.
A: The biggest achievement for Bulgaria during my time here has been its entry to NATO and the EU. And it has been a privilege to me to be here during that time and play a part when the UK held the presidency of the EU in 2005. During the last four years we have seen the greater trade between our countries, the greater British investment and the increase of British tourists. And I'd like to think that the Embassy played a positive, helpful and supporting role for these developments.
Q: Still, Britain remains closed for Bulgarians who wish to work there. When will that change?
A: At the moment we only grant limited access to our labour market for example special schemes, such as the agricultural workers scheme. But we said last year that we would review these restrictions after one year and that review is now under way. I expect the results of that review to be announced sometime before January next year.
Q: What exactly are your colleagues in London reviewing?
A: There is an analytical process under way in which they are looking at the experience of our labour market following the accession of the previous member states Poland and Lithuania and others, whose nationals had access to our labour market. They are looking at the social and economic effects and also the needs of our market at present.
Q: When will be the analysis for Bulgaria and Romania be completed?
A: That analysis is going on at the moment, but the issue of whether Bulgarians and Romanians could have greater access to our labour market is being taken as part of this overall analysis.
Q: What was your hardest time in Bulgaria?
A: Probably in the first three months of my mandate here in April 2004 when there was a temporary suspension of our visa regime we reorganized the process of handling the business visas. One of the great benefits for Bulgaria after its EU entry is that we no longer have a visa regime between our two countries.
Q: Still, according to publications in the British press, many British are sorry that there is no longer a visa regime. Do you agree?
A: The abolition of the visa regime has been positive for both countries. We have noticed stimulation for business in the fact that people can travel to the United Kingdom more easily.
Q: Why does Bulgaria have a problem with its image in the UK?
A: My impression is that he image of Bulgaria has improved in the UK over the last four years. Most British tourists who come here seem to have very positive and enjoyable experiences. And similarly there is a trend for British people to buy houses here and again that appears to be positive. Also your footballers are great ambassadors for Bulgaria, you know stars like Dimitar Berbatov are very popular in Britain.
Q: Do you consider buying a house in Bulgaria yourself?
A: No, but even after we leave we will definitely be regular visitors back to this country.
Q: Who is the person you will never forget in Bulgaria?
A: It is difficult to single out one individual. But the thing that has most impressed us it that everywhere we have travelled we have received a very warm welcome and people everywhere have been hospitable. I have particularly enjoyed taking part in regional events - cultural, music or sports events. And my particular impression has been taken by taking part in sports orienteering events. The sport club in Sliven and the whole orienteering community have been very friendly to us and we have particularly appreciated that.
Q: What do you think of the Bulgarian politicians?
A: It is hard for me to identify one individual. We have had very good relations in the embassy also with people from across the political spectrum. I am very pleased that during my time we had been able to deepen cooperation in every area. And with the entry to the EU the personal relationships between ministers, between an ambassador and the government ministers here and between those ministers and our ministers in Great Britain have become much closer.
Q: Many diplomats write books about the countries they have been to. Would you follow their example?
A: I have no plans to write a book at the moment but without doubt we will maintain our links with this country and continue to support the growing relations between our two countries.
Q: Give us Bulgarians some advice, may it not be positive, something you think might be helpful having in mind your experience with the Bulgarians.
A: It is hard for me to offer advice but I can make a promise: we will stay in touch, we will maintain our friendships and we will be happy to return the hospitality that so many people have shown to us here.
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Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)
