The key symbolic aspect of the visit by Russian president Vladimir Putin to Bulgaria on January 17 and 18 is that it marks the start of the Year of Russia in Bulgaria.
Considering this and the somewhat less symbolic but more substantial issues between the two countries, it is a good time to reflect on the past and present of Russian-Bulgarian relations.
The outcome of the Russo-Turkish war may be taken as the opening chapter of modern history, given that it was decisive in spelling the end of Ottoman rule of Bulgaria.
However, it should not be forgotten that the actual outcome, the eventual status of Bulgaria as a sovereign state, arguably was different from what had been intended by Russia at the time, that Bulgaria would fall under the suzerainty of the Russian tsars. In those early years, when Russia hoped that Bulgaria would spend decades as its protectorate, key administrative and senior military posts were all reserved for Russians. Within this Great Power game, it is to the credit of individual Bulgarians that this country emerged and opened dealings with the West.
The subject of relations between Moscow and Sofia during the Soviet era is well-canvassed and need hardly be revisited in depth here. Suffice to say that it was a master-servant relationship, and that among the lasting negative effects was the ecological damage that the Moscow of the time preferred to outsource to the subordinate states of the communist world.
While it may fairly be argued that after the fall of communism, Russia had troubles of its own to focus on, it may equally be well remembered who emerged as the leading friends and partners of post-communist Bulgaria. As this country began its struggle towards a market economy, a progressive democracy and a Euro-Atlantic future, the strongest helping hands came from the West. As soon as Bulgaria signaled its openness to the West, there were responses from every capital, from Berlin to Brussels, Paris, Rome, The Hague, London and Washington, both with investment (to varying degrees, of course) and assistance: from the European Union collectively and several individual EU member programmes, USAID, among others. Through Bulgarian effort and through support from every Western country of significance, this country was empowered to make astonishing progress. Any sensible and objective observer can see that Bulgaria deserves its place as a sovereign state, and to be acknowledged as a partner within Nato and the EU, and not to be treated as a pawn or a lesser state.
With Bulgaria on its checklist as it seeks to build a massive edifice of influence through energy and other factors, Russia has rediscovered this country. Given Bulgarias strategic location, it is of use to Russia in projects such as South Stream. However, in turn, Bulgaria may have the confidence of a country that has already stood by decisions such as joining the Nato alliance and writing off the fact that by doing so, it annoyed Moscow. As Putin passes through Sofia, accompanied by those who seek to implement the full agenda of Moscows aims, it may be noted that Bulgaria needs no reminding who its true friends have proved to be, and that it need stand back to no one in demanding always to be negotiated with on the basis of equal partnership, and on the basis of Bulgarias right always to put first its own national interests.
