United States president George Bush and Bulgarian president Georgi Purvanov discussed international issues including Iraq and Kosovo and controversial US plans for a missile shield on Europe, while Bush reiterated support for Bulgarian medics facing the death sentence in Libya.

Also discussed were US visa requirements for Bulgarians, and enhancement of US investment in Bulgaria, especially in the energy sector, it emerged at a joint news conference by the two heads of state at the Archeological Museum in the Bulgarian capital city of Sofia on June 11.

On the missile shield issue, which has been a bone of contention between Washington and Moscow, Bush noted that Russian president Vladimir Putin had come up with an “interesting idea” about the location of missile bases for protection against “rogue states” and, Bush said, this would be discussed.

Purvanov said that Bulgaria should not choose between its respective friendships with the US and Russia, referring to these relations as the country’s friendships with “George and Vladimir” (Bush and Putin).

Bush thanked Bulgaria for its participation in the US-led coalition forces in Iraq and expressed his condolences to the families of those Bulgarians who had lost their lives there. He paid tribute to Bulgaria for its role in building democracy in Afghanistan.
During his European trip, Bush has emphasised US backing for the Ahtisaari plan which envisages effective independence for Kosovo. He thanked Purvanov for his advice on the issue.

Bush reiterated US support for the Bulgarian medics in Libya, currently under sentence of death for supposedly infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV. Bush said that he was “deeply concerned” about the medics, expressed his strong support for them, and said that the issue was a high priority for the US. He said that the US was contributing to an international fund to support the infected children. Asked for his response to an appeal from Bulgarian media for him to press wealth US firms to contribute to the fund, Bush said that there need not be concern about the source of the funding.

On the economy, Purvanov noted that bilateral trade relations were improving, but said there was much potential for development. The two discussed potential American involvement in the energy sector, with Purvanov telling Bush that US energy firm Chevron could get involved in the Bourgas-Alexandropoulis oil pipeline project.

For Bulgaria, an especial concern is the fact that the US continues to subject Bulgarians to stringent requirements under the visa system. Bush said that the US visa system was “stuck in the past” and he was working with, among others, the US congress to reform it.

Purvanov said that bilateral relations were “better than ever” while Bush closed the news conference, which lasted about 35 minutes, with a “George, thanks for having me,” to Purvanov.

Bush, after meetings including talks with Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, is due to leave Bulgaria on the afternoon of June 11.