FIGURATIVELY, the fall of the Soviet empire kicked up much dust amid its ruins, and it served to obscure much.
Moscow and Sofia, which in so many senses had been so close in the era of communism, became cities estranged from each other.
On the part of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) government that came to power in Bulgaria in 1997, there was a wariness about Russia. The UDF, staunchly orientated towards the West, did not even want to feel its way through the cloud that had descended over the path to Moscow, because its leader, prime minister Ivan Kostov, found repugnant the idea of Russia re-establishing its predominance in Bulgarian public and commercial life.
In the UDF era, no Bulgarian prime minister made the trip to the Kremlin. Zhan Videnov of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) went there in 1995; the next head of government to do so was Simeon Saxe-Coburg, at the beginning of June last year.
At the time of his visit, commentators observed that there would have to be a change of mindset on the Russian side, to no longer perceive Bulgaria as a subordinate client state. It was a sign of much-changed times that, while Kostov had not gone to Moscow at all, for Saxe-Coburg almost a year in office lapsed before he went, first visiting capitals in the West. In the era now long gone, Moscow was the premier port of call for Bulgarian leaders.
Saxe-Coburg had meetings with his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Kasyanov, and with President Vladimir Putin.
The theme of Saxe-Coburg's visit was his Government's determination to re-establish good relations with Russia.
After all, notwithstanding the changes after the fall of communism, Russia remains a key player, and through its oil and other interests has a substantial stake in Bulgaria's economy, a stake it is keen to develop.
Last September, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov, who before being elected head of state was leader of the BSP, said Bulgaria's aspirations for fuller integration into Europe should not cancel out its need for Russia.
"European integration for Bulgaria doesn't exclude, but requires, more co-operation with Russia," he said, according to the Russia Journal Daily.
Before Saxe-Coburg's visit, the Prime Minister also called for pragmatism.
From Saxe-Coburg's visit came the approval of a supplement to the Agreement on the Settlement of the Mutual Obligations Between the Russian Federation and Bulgaria, which allowed for Russia's debt to Bulgaria to be reduced and repaid both in cash and in nuclear fuel. At the same time, it was agreed that Bulgaria would have its MiG-29 fighter jets serviced in Russia.
Despite the distance in relations between Bulgaria and Russia after the fall of communism, Russian business people made Russia one of Bulgaria's largest trading partners. Russian companies such as LUKoil and Gazprom have made serious investments in Bulgaria.
Relations thus far appear to have survived some tense incidents, including the tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats, allegedly for espionage, in the year 2000, and the dispute that erupted last year over Russian claims to ownership of properties linked to Bulgartabac, the tobacco monopoly that has been the subject of a protracted attempt at privatisation
During his visit in March this year, Putin said that although there had been a decline in bilateral relations, which he described as having been the fault of both sides, the atmosphere had improved substantially
"We are giving a new start to our relations, under different economic and political conditions opening new opportunities for us".
Relations between Bulgaria and Russia should be free of any ideological considerations, and stereotypes from ages that had passed, Putin said.
Moscow and Sofia, which in so many senses had been so close in the era of communism, became cities estranged from each other.
On the part of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) government that came to power in Bulgaria in 1997, there was a wariness about Russia. The UDF, staunchly orientated towards the West, did not even want to feel its way through the cloud that had descended over the path to Moscow, because its leader, prime minister Ivan Kostov, found repugnant the idea of Russia re-establishing its predominance in Bulgarian public and commercial life.
In the UDF era, no Bulgarian prime minister made the trip to the Kremlin. Zhan Videnov of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) went there in 1995; the next head of government to do so was Simeon Saxe-Coburg, at the beginning of June last year.
At the time of his visit, commentators observed that there would have to be a change of mindset on the Russian side, to no longer perceive Bulgaria as a subordinate client state. It was a sign of much-changed times that, while Kostov had not gone to Moscow at all, for Saxe-Coburg almost a year in office lapsed before he went, first visiting capitals in the West. In the era now long gone, Moscow was the premier port of call for Bulgarian leaders.
Saxe-Coburg had meetings with his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Kasyanov, and with President Vladimir Putin.
The theme of Saxe-Coburg's visit was his Government's determination to re-establish good relations with Russia.
After all, notwithstanding the changes after the fall of communism, Russia remains a key player, and through its oil and other interests has a substantial stake in Bulgaria's economy, a stake it is keen to develop.
Last September, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov, who before being elected head of state was leader of the BSP, said Bulgaria's aspirations for fuller integration into Europe should not cancel out its need for Russia.
"European integration for Bulgaria doesn't exclude, but requires, more co-operation with Russia," he said, according to the Russia Journal Daily.
Before Saxe-Coburg's visit, the Prime Minister also called for pragmatism.
From Saxe-Coburg's visit came the approval of a supplement to the Agreement on the Settlement of the Mutual Obligations Between the Russian Federation and Bulgaria, which allowed for Russia's debt to Bulgaria to be reduced and repaid both in cash and in nuclear fuel. At the same time, it was agreed that Bulgaria would have its MiG-29 fighter jets serviced in Russia.
Despite the distance in relations between Bulgaria and Russia after the fall of communism, Russian business people made Russia one of Bulgaria's largest trading partners. Russian companies such as LUKoil and Gazprom have made serious investments in Bulgaria.
Relations thus far appear to have survived some tense incidents, including the tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats, allegedly for espionage, in the year 2000, and the dispute that erupted last year over Russian claims to ownership of properties linked to Bulgartabac, the tobacco monopoly that has been the subject of a protracted attempt at privatisation
During his visit in March this year, Putin said that although there had been a decline in bilateral relations, which he described as having been the fault of both sides, the atmosphere had improved substantially
"We are giving a new start to our relations, under different economic and political conditions opening new opportunities for us".
Relations between Bulgaria and Russia should be free of any ideological considerations, and stereotypes from ages that had passed, Putin said.
