For the second time in the two-and-a-half years that he has been serving in Bulgaria, US ambassador John Beyrle, along with US embassy consul Daniel Perrone, participated in a web TV chat with the Bulgarian public.

The question-and-answer session occurred on the morning of April 10 via bgweb.tv/usembassy, where one can also find an archive of the conversations.

Questions asked of Beylre focused on relations between the United States and Bulgaria, organised crime and terrorism, country morale and development, Macedonia, and, indirectly, the recent murders of Borislav Georgiev and Georgi Stoev, two figures with links to Bulgaria’s shadow economy.

A participant named “Rumen” asked how Beylre viewed the developments in Macedonia and the country’s relationship with its neighbours.

Beyrle answered that the US was disappointed that Macedonia did not receive approval to join Nato, while emphasising that it remained important for all Nato members to be in accord – something that included having good relations with countries in the Nato family.

As to the fight against terrorism, a user named “Velmira” asked how the US valued Bulgaria as a partner in this regards, to which Beylre responded Bulgaria had been an outstanding partner.

Bulgarian-language daily Trud asked about an April 8 confirmation hearing of US ambassador-designate to Bulgaria Nancy McEldowney before the US senate committee on foreign relations, chaired by senator Barack Obama. The hearing included a briefing by Obama on Bulgaria’s situation with the mafia and corruption. “It is important to note that even a US presidential candidate is paying attention to the current situation ... in Bulgaria,” Beyrle said. “I will advise my successor to continue my work, namely to continue to talk about necessary changes that need to happen, and to work together with people who are dedicated to and engaged in these changes, so as to support them in attaining these changes.”

Questions posed to Perrone dealt mostly with visas, including the opportunities for work and study programmes in the US, green cards, expired passports with still-valid visas, and – when the US would no longer require visas of Bulgarian citizens.

Bulgarian National Television asked where things were in the process of no longer requiring visas of Bulgarians wishing to travel to the US.

Perrone answered: “The largest hindrance at the moment ... is the number of illegal Bulgarians in the States, and also the problems of organised crime and corruption. ... The number of illegal stays [in the US] is higher than it should be.”

Related to this, a participant named “Teodoras” asked what details were available about a two-way understanding to abolish visas. Security measures and exchange of traveller information were key, Perrone said, and certain requirements would have to be fulfilled before visas could be done away with.