Once in a while the sounds of international politics are voiced through Bulgarian messengers. A visit to Georgia, whose political turmoil was as potentially building into a new revolution, resounding loudly in all international media, gave Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev the opportunity to be the spokesperson on behalf of the European Union. This was the first ever case of a Bulgarian top official speaking on a multi-country level since Bulgaria joined the EU on January 1 2007.

Stanishev was in Georgia as part of his Southern Caucasus tour, which also included visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The tour took place between November 11-16.

Stanishev arrived in Georgia at a critical time. The country, whose incumbent political leadership previous got much praise for its pro-western political course, was bogged down in a crisis that saw protesters requesting Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s removal, the arrest of thousands of protesters, the closure of a TV station owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., the president’s announcement of a state of emergency and the call for snap presidential elections to appease the opposition in the country.

While in Tbilisi, Stanishev articulated the request of the European Commission that Georgia lift the state of emergency, carry out elections in a democratic fashion and restore freedom of expression. Stanishev co-ordinated the official EC position during a phone conversation with the EC president Jose Manuel Barroso a day prior to the visit.

Stanishev’s role as the EU speaker was logical. He was the first EU prime minister to visit Georgia after the beginning of the political crisis and the first Bulgarian PM to visit the southern Caucasus state since its independence in 1991.

EU messenger policies aside, the tour to the Southern Caucasus marked Bulgaria’s renewed political and business interest in the smaller members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The visits represented the logical continuation of a process of Bulgaria’s gradual restoration of ties with the CIS. The process had been reinstated after stalling for a long period, in both political and business terms. The halt was prompted by a wave of aversion in post-communist Bulgaria, which virtually stopped all bilateral relations with the CIS countries for more than a decade.

The first step in the process was considered to be re-establishing relationships with the big countries in the CIS such as Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia were considered to be the second step in this process. Suffice to say, the November 11-16 visit was the first by a Bulgarian prime minister since these three countries gained independence.

Experts described Stanishev’s trip to Georgia during a critical political row there more as a coincidence than a deliberate move aimed at bringing the Bulgarian prime minister political dividends within the international community. The visit was scheduled prior to the start of mass protests in Tbilisi as it was part of Bulgaria’s longer-run strategy to revive relations with the former Soviet Bloc.

Stanishev met the political leadership of all three countries on his trip, heads of state, government and parliament and showcased Bulgaria’s renewed political and business image.

As Bulgaria is already an EU member it could serve as the channel to convey these smaller CIS countries’ political and economic interests in the Union. Furthermore, Bulgaria is among the authors of the EU policy for Black Sea co-operation, according to Stanishev.

To Armenia, Bulgaria’s membership of the EU also translates into financial support. Under a concept drafted in the summer, the Government of Bulgaria, in its capacity as an EU member state, listed Armenia among the states where finance should be given for projects in the fields of education and professional qualification. In addition, in its capacity as a Nato member Bulgaria could act as the promoter for Georgia’s aspirations to join the Alliance.

Stanishev also focused on improving economic relationships on his trip. As Azeri president Geidar Aliev said, as quoted by the Bulgarian Government media office, “Now is the time for Azerbaijan to enter the Bulgarian market as the country is an outpost to the entire EU and has a very good investment climate.”

The same message was reiterated by high-ranking Armenian and Georgian officials. Stanishev promoted Bulgaria as having a liberalised market, macro-economic stability, low taxes and access to the European market. He also brokered support to procure more information for businesses, this being among the main drivers for enhancing bilateral trade, Stanishev was quoted by the Government’s press office as saying. In that vein and in all three countries, Stanishev signed accords for economic co-operation, on the avoidance of double taxation and the exchange of business-related information, all seen as triggering an increase in bilateral economic trade. Stanishev also brokered high-level support to carry out bilateral business forums. All are set to take place next year.

In Armenia, there was also a strong cultural aspect to talks. It was agreed that Armenia will host a year of Bulgarian culture next year.

Bulgaria’s renewed march eastwards looks to be shifting gear and to continue in the years to come.