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ProInterview with Solomon Passy

www.probook.bg, 26.01.2012

Milena Bogdanova (Sofia, Bulgaria) Chef-Redakteur of Rezon Ltd.

Mr. Passy, it is a great pleasure for us that you are our guest this week. In your opinion, when would it be possible for newly built structures to be allowed settlement only because of having free Internet?

Solomon Passy: My team, Gergana and I deeply believe that it would be a fact sooner or later. In addition to this, our common efforts can speed up the whole process. This decision can be taken either by the European Commission or by our own government. It can also be lead in as a practice at municipal level. In the previous case, it took us three years – from 2008 till 2011 to succeed in convincing the Commission for Standardization of Charges for Mobile Phones and it was the first precedent which a new member of the EU put into practice among all the other members of the Union. Up to now, we are under the impression that the current Commission is a little bit slower than the previous one which was directed by our friend Günter Verheugen. We would be satisfied if it happens in the next three years, although it can sound a bit too optimistically. Otherwise, our government can surprise us pleasantly by providing a national solution, just as in the trail-blazing spirit of John Atanasoff…therefore, I am not an excessive optimist.  Even though, I believe in the strength of the civil society and we are going to continue our efforts till a successful fulfillment of our objectives.

Miroslav Chapkynov (Burgas, Bulgaria) Studenst, freelancer

Dear Mr. Passy, I congratulate you for the great success connected with the charges for mobile phones. Such a standartisation is a step in the future, and in my opinion, it can be just the beginning. The unification of charges for laptops, tablets, MP3-players and so on should be the next action taken. I would kindly ask you for details how you envisage the free governmental internet at public spaces – should every single region or municipality have their own network?  And is there a tax going to be paid for the support of these network by the citizens? Thank you a lot for your attention.

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Chapkynov, You are absolutely right for the future standardization. There is huge economical and ecological potential as well as a possibility to save big amounts of money and to prevent their wasting. Just think over the standardization of charges for mobile phones and the examples, concluded the mentioned by you, are numerous. Gergana and I already wrote to the Commission but we also need governmental support. In the previous case Gergana was the Minister for European Affaires and I was the executive of the External Committee and up to our initiative we used the means which are now in the priority of our Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. He really can use the gained “know-how” as well as to multiplicate it and cover with glory Bulgaria in the EU and beyond.

And now for the Wi-Fi: The access to internet was compared by the UN with the main human rights such as the right to live, the right of freedom, the right of security and the right of citizenship. Logically, the UN should become a leader in implementing this right. I don’t want to put technical solutions at a prior place than the concrete policies. Our endmost aim is internet to be treated in the same way as electricity, running water and toilets which are compulsory for each building. We will pay for internet the way we pay our other bills. But to face it – the universal access will dramatically arise the number of the internet consumers, the companies logically will profit more which will lead to lower prices.

Georgi Palurin (Sofia, Bulgaria) Executive manager and owner of www.targ.bg

Dear Mr. Passy, I am interested in your opinion on the decline of the civil society in Bulgaria, if we take it for granted, that it is true. What are the premises which prevent us from having an active civil society able to have serious impact on our common future? How the migration of young families can be stopped? And what is the near future of the EU?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Palpurin, Most probably our civil society is not as well developed as in other countries. But we have examples for the opposite tendency too such as the Atlantic club (www.athlancic-club.org) which I have the great pleasure to present. Since its beginning in the 1990s up to now it has been a leading figure in the opinion building on a lot of unpopular and even exotic topics such as NATO, Antarctica, standardization, cosmic laws etc. And the best things are just imminent. The current migration, mostly from Eastern to Western countries, has been one of the natural processes since the ХV.  century. Our emigrated youths are providing the possibility for other young people, mostly emigrants from countries beyond the borders of the EU, to participate actively in bettering Bulgaria with their potential and work. As for our children – they will return when we can give them chances which America and the EU will already have depleted. As for the near future of the EU – I deeply believe that it will become one single country, better in many ways than the member countries and it is just a matter of time to happen.

Georgi Palpurin: Dear Mr. Passy, Thank you for our attention. I would like to kindly ask you, based on your political practice, for your opinion if there is a deliberate attempt to destroy the civil society in order to make it easier to be manipulated by the politicians (since 1989)? Moreover, do you think that it is possible to leave beyond the ‘heritage’ from the time before 1989? Some individuals (usually from BCP and State Security) grabbed the possibility to enter the politics and forgot their primary objectives. A president of the Republic of Bulgaria was ten years a contributor to State Security! If it happened to you to watch the film of Vladislav Karamfilov “Operation Shmenti Kapeli” – how would you comment on the grade of objectivity the showed so called passage to democracy based on your big experience of Bulgaria’s public affairs?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Palpurin, Thank you for your interest in my humble opinion. I am quite optimistic having in regard this topic and I can give you a clear and short answer - with the shift in generations the problematic areas will change too. I can convince you that the problem which is discomposing you right now will be ununderstandable for our children. They will not be able to understand Vladi Vargala’s film as well as “Mission London” and I would add – Thanks God! Of course, Vladi will make a new film for them which they will understand and make them laugh. I will be happy to continue this conversation after one of the meetings of the Athlatic club.

Kalina Petrova (Sofia, Bulgaria) Editor at Rezon Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy,.Do you expect the Euro to be rival on the world market?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Petrova, I deeply believe in the future of the Euro. It was implemented by extremely perspicacious European leaders before the EU was ready for it. But very often this is the right path in politics – to apply a bold decision and after that – during its implementation to care about the details. Otherwise, it would be unthinkable to reach the point when all member countries could be ready to implement it in their policies.

Kalina Petkova (Sofia, Bulgaria) Editor at Rezon Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, What do you think about the near future if the Euro – do you believe that that it’s possible for it to remain a leading force in Europe?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Petkova, I deeply believe in the future if the Euro. It was implemented by very perspicacious leaders even though Europe was not prepared enough for it. But often it is the right path in politics - to implement a brave solution and just after that to clear up the details! In another case, it would have never happened to lead in the Euro at all.

Andrej Simeonov (Sofia, Bulgaria) Editor at Rezon Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, What is the purpose that we talk about cosmic laws at all? Could our country become a leader in the cosmic race?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Simeonov, On the one hand, a person or a country are as valuable as their dreams are. In the records of UN it is figured out that Bulgaria used to be the sixth utmost developed nation, baring in mind that we used to heave most cosmonauts per head in the whole world. I can not see the point why our future should be worse than our past. Moreover, we do not take part in a race but we participate in a common European building-up. Bulgaria needs a technical and informational revival and the pursuits connected with it only bring us closer to the desired point.

Kalina Petrova (Sofia, Bulgaria) Editor at Rezon Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, Which book based on a multinational topic did make am impression on you lately?

Solomon Passy: Dear  Mrs. Petrova, Lately I have been fascinated by some biographies of Steve Jobs as well as the “Nation Innovator” about the Israeli technical and economic paragon. I am also rereading “1001 nights” at the moment whose gorgeous edition was published lately.

Valentina  Gerorgieva (Sofia, Bulgaria) Editor, author, translator, freelancer

Dear Mr. Passy, I would like to congratulate you for the idea of standardization of the charges for mobile phones – just a simple but a genius concept with a huge ecologic and humanistic potential. My question is connected with the Internet for free – who is going to pay it?  Will it be the investor? The very moment the owner sells the newly constructed building, do they have any obligation to support the building and the lawn anymore? My other question refers to the fact whether you prefer paper books or you have a preference for tablets? Thank you in advance.

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Georgieva, Thank you a lot for your question. I would like to share my opinion that there is not anything unpaid – we just have to treat Internet as other basic human necessities just as electricity, running water, access to toilets and high – rise elevators. All of them are paid by the common users but surprisingly the price shared by the main consumers is rapidly decreasing. Alongside, the providers’ profits are dramatically increasing? To sum up, everybody profits. Up to now – I sill can not overcome the nostalgia connected with the paper books. But looking into the future – who knows?

Petar Kimonov, Owner of Tales Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, You soon wrote the introduction to the biography of Nursultan Nazabayev and you personally presented the book to the Ambassador of Kazakhstan of Bulgaria lately. Does it not contravene with your political conceptions?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Kimonov, I would like to thank you a lot for your question. In 2004, as a president of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in  Europe I  had the great pleasure to able to communicate with the presidents of all the Post – Soviet States, including Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Central – Asian republics. We succeeded no matter to what extend, in implementing democracy and respecting the basic human rights. In Kazakhstan we agreed on some mutual concessions regarding the upcoming lections. Moreover, in Tajikistan we succeeded in suggesting a moratorium on the death sentence as well as releasing 130 political prisoners of Azerbaijan (some who have been imprisoned since more than10 years). In addition to this, in Belarus we continued the mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe which was threatened. Furthermore, the Bulgarian chairmanship did not reach the point of finding a peaceful exist of the Ajar conflict which can be regarded as a unique example of a such one solved by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (In order to fully recognize its importance – just remember the tragedy in South Ossetia and Abkhazia – also parts of Gruzia). During all this bitter political experience I was deeply convinced that only the real bilateral dialogue can become the only one possible solution for the current problems including those connected with the implementation of a western type of democracy and protection of the basic human rules according to the UN. My generation should not forget that the visit of François Mitterrand in1989 while Zhivkov’s ruling was of extremely high importance for the democratization of Bulgaria and the downfall of communism here than the Western leaders who isolated our country. So, there is not any contradiction with my opinion that the Kazakhstan nation deserves a much better political future and we being part of the West societies can contribute actively both with its current problems as well as with the dialogue among the ruling figures there. By the way, the author of this particular book – Kasim Yaomart Tokaev was a colleague of mine while he was the Minister of Internal Affaires in 2004 when Mongolia was welcomed to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Dimitar Ivanov, South Black Sea Coast Security officer

Dear Mr. Passy, Many years ago it was possible for disabled individuals to have the opportunity to get a car - something like a Trabant, Zaporozhets and so on. Would not it be possible for us to profit in such a way again? We are supposed to have been in modern Europe for the last 22 years but nothing changed a lot. You can either give us a short and simple answer or you can give us your Trabant if not needed.

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Ivanov, This particular car right now is at the Military Historic Museum and it is possible for everybody to see it now during the opening times!

Genevieve Chervenakova, Sofia, Bulgaria Editor at Fakti.bg, Rezon Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, Do you believe that the occasion connected with the ambassadors’ files really ruined up to a particular extent the image of Bulgaria and the stereotype of its population? Or its importance within the country is extremely overrated?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Chervenakova, The problem you mentioned is absolutely only for internal use. Moreover, it only ruins our image in front of other foreign countries and unnecessary attracts useless attention to our country. I do not find it probable to give more details about the theory of shared guilt and joint repentance because I can assure you that a lot of the people accused of the seven deadly sins helped me devotedly to join NATO and the EU as well as to lead the Security Council of the UN. Just one more oddity – one of our diplomats who investigated North Korea was punished for this activity – something which can be described as a contemporary major point of interest in the modern Western societies.

Ventsislav Mihaylov, Velingrad, Bulgaria Editor at Rezon Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, What is your opinion on the future of NATO? Does the Alliance have the possibility to react adequately to the current challenges in front of it? Are there any transformations within the organization needed?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Mihaylov, Your question is too wide-raging and you can find a lot of articles, interviews and publications of mine on it. It is not so easy for me to give you a proper answer in less than a few pages so you can take a look at my basic views on www.Atlantic-Club.org and on www.SolomonPassy.com. After that you can contact me at any time at SolomonPassy@gmail.com in order to continue this dialogue.

Alexander Ilchev, Plovdiv, Bulgaria Consultant technologist, Pana Group Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, I would like to thank probook for the possibility for all of us being able to communicate with you. I have a few questions. Firstly, what is the reason for NMS to decline its political impact or at least its public one? Secondly, what is going to happen to Europe in the next a few years? In addition to this, what role do you expect for Bulgaria to have in it? Thank you in advance and I wish you successful and beneficial proceedings in the near future.

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Ilchev, I come from Plovdiv too. There are some various aspects for NMS to be at such a position right now. One of the most important reasons is that a huge amount of the time for communication with our residents we spend working and our leaders deeply believed that we would be given the proper evaluation taken the results shown, not regarding our presentations. But it does not matter right now. Bulgaria has an extremely unstable parliamentary model dependent on a new triple coalition – BSP, GERB and MRF. In my opinion, it is high time the forth missing subject was created in order to set a long-lasting strategy for the further development of our country. Of course, it will be easier and more qualitative to make this step together with NMS and some other democratic fractions which should forget their egos and start working for one huge national idea.

Yanko Popov, Mezdra, Bulgaria Programmer at Rezon Ltd.

Dear Mr.  Passy, I would like to turn back time and to ask you how you decided to give up mathematics. In addition to this, are you still interested in it? Finally, do you believe you lost something important which mathematics could have given to you?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Popov, With the passing of time I understood that mathematics is not only a life style but also a way of living even if it is no more your main profession. Twenty years ago there were two main circumstances – I just finished a big mathematical project and at the same time I took part in the political rebirth of Bulgaria. Mathematics and logics in particular which is my major teach to make political prognosis. I reached the conclusion that this ability can be extremely helpful in politics, especially, when an individual is not afraid of being alone. Moreover, I suppose I did not make a mistake. Otherwise, how could have I been able to meet Gergana? If you wish – you could write to me at SolomonPassy@gmail.com

Zhivka Zivkov, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria Economist at Borko Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, A long time ago you drove the Secretary - General of NATO in a Trabant – can you tell me what happened to that can and what type of a vehicle you have right now?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Zhivkov, Best regards to Veliko Tarnovo. In 991 I was a candidate for a member at our parliament at your region and I still remember the emotion provoked by that company. Right now I drive the car of the Atlantic club – Mazda 6 but I have never been keen on the make of a car. In my opinion, it is rather a mean to reach a spot appointed but not the aim of a journey.

Tsvetana Georgieva, Sofia, Bulgaria Journalist and author, freelancer

Dear Mr. Passy, What have been changed for Bulgaria during the last five years since we have been a member of the EU?  What are the advantages and the disadvantages of our membership? Thank you in advance

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs.  Georgieva, Last Tuesday I participated in a conference organized by the Institute for Economic Policy Studies and foundation ‘Friedrich Ebert’ on the topic of our five years long membership in the EU. If you read the speech I delivered there – you can get a broader impression of the whole process .On the internet page of the Atlantic club – www.Atlantic-Club.org you can find my further publications concerning this topic and the future priorities of Bulgaria. I will try to sum them up:

  1. Bulgaria gained a lot of its participation in the EU and nothing can be regarded as a disadvantage of our membership. The needed price for our participation can be taken for a future investment (just as pension or health insurance) which will be crucial for our national prosperity. If Bulgaria had not finished successfully the negotiations for joining the EU and had not signed the contract for it in April 2005, it is unclear when our country would have been ready to do it. We really grabbed the last chance for it. The next one possibility to do it most probably could have been after 2020.
  2. Bulgaria does not do its best order to use maximally the opportunities offered by both NATO and the EU. We did not succeed in implementing a positive agenda connected with our main views on the most important problems in the EU and beyond its borders despite the fact that we had the opportunity to do it. We lack self-confidence and courage to do it and we are usually in defense.
  3. There are  three main question which have not been answered by Bulgaria since 01/01/2007:
    1. What are our main priorities connected with our membership in the EU and in NATO and how to reach them?
    2. What are our main priorities beyond the borders of the EU?
    3. What is our influence on the EU and NATO?

Here, in the Atlantic club, we reached some insights and it all the three aspects and you can rely on me to discuss it with you if interested.

Antoniya Simeonova, Sofia, Bulgaria Owner, freelancer

Dear Mr.  Passy,

I have three questions based on the books you mentioned to be reading lately.

1. What of the biography of Steve Jobs can be implemented in Bulgaria?

2. You referred also to ‘The Nation Innovator’ – a really deep analysis of the Israeli economic miracle. Is it possible a similar miracle to happen in our country ?

3. Regarding ‘1001 Nights’ which you have been reading lately - what would you recommend to be picked up by Bulgaria – the Aladdin’s lamp, the magic carpet or the genie in the bottle?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Simeonova,

  1. Practically - everything. Bulgaria can become a European leader in the electronic standardization and after that a leading figure connected with the climate changes. The Bulgarian achievement with the universal charges for mobile phones and the new project for common access to Wi-Fi show our great potential in these aspects. But for all these projects there are needed clear political vision and will which do not present a lot these days.
  2. Yes, it is absolutely possible. If our country has two governments one after another with clear priorities it is highly possible in a few years to join the 40 best economics in the world. The Atlantic club has been trying to put this priority as a main national aim but as it is perfectly seeable – we need a little more time to succeed in this particular aim. But this is not a final aim but rather a step to it because our government has not only its main priorities but also the needed fantasy and the ability to formulate a more ambitious intermediate aim – for example, Bulgaria can try to join G – 20 and to become one of the twenty leading economics in the whole world. This aim is worth all the struggles and it can perfectly fill the gap in our national priorities after joining NATO in 2004 and EU in 2007.
  3. The genie in the bottle right now is let out and it is just a matter of time to make it go in back. Thanks to the dynamically developing modern technologies everything else will be possible soon. Here in Bulgaria we lack most the spirit of ‘1001 Nights’ – the belief that we can make our dreams come true by ourselves.

Nataliya Stoyanova, Sofia, Bulgaria Marketing manager, freelancer

Dear Mr. Passy, We understood what you had been reading. Can you share with us what have you been writing lately?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Stoyanova, Lately, in the spirit of the cultural heritage left by my father, even on a smaller scale, the Atlantic club, Gergana and I try to promote in our country world famous ideas and achievements or some less known and even exotic and controversial opinions on the world and life in general.

Edy Runev, Sofia, Bulgaria Instructor at the Diplomatic Properties Agency

Dear Mr. Passy, You were a Minister of Internal Affairs and may I ask you what have happened to Diplomatic club ‘Boyana’? Why the club has been so dramatically robbed through a fake privatization? All the staff does not work there at the moment and some of them are extremely well-qualified. On the opposite, the managers of the club have never been educated enough. Do you know what happens there and what is the reason for it?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Runev, I have not been exposed to this particular problem since the last 7 years, so I can not be able to tell you in details what is going on there right now. Since 2005 I have been more interested in the Bulgarian properties out of the borders of our country which are extremely profitable but due to unknown for me reasons are turned into money-wasting problems. At the end of my mandate I left to my successor a well-developed strategy how to manage effectively and lucratively our properties out of the country borders but regretfully, after 7 years such or a similar strategy have not been implemented.

Petar Svetlinov, Sofia, Bulgaria Manager of otslabni.bg

Dear Mr. Passy, Your management of the country lead to unbelievable successes in various spheres and the politicians at that time were erudite, well-prepared and good-looking. Why were they so harshly replaced by uneducated, untrained and untidy individuals who wasted the gained by you resources and push Bulgaria to a definite failure? How did you let this happen? What are you doing right now in order to help our country?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Svetlinov, Thank you a lot for the positive evaluation of my team at that time. You are right that I used to have colleagues whose intelligence and charisma were worth being respected. And the tsar succeeded, though only for a short period of time, in some changes in the rhetoric of the whole political class. As a setting positivism person I can see some perfectly looking and capable individuals among the contemporary government but to sum up, I do not believe that there are a lot of well-mannered people there. The current master unit possesses great intuition and knows that the long-lasting visions are not attractive to the potential voters at all but they determine the results of the lections. The qualities to win some particular elections and to govern successfully the country are completely different. I made a more popular research on this topic mostly about the ‘electronic democracy’ which can be read on the internet address of the Atlantic club – Atlantic-club.org. By the way, I also visited your web-site which occurred to be very interesting to me despite the fact that I am not a specialist in loosing weight.  But in my opinion, Europe must implement new policy regarding the health care including the prevention of obesity as well as the protection of smoking. All in all, a lot of new policies need to be developed and implemented and it will be good if Bulgaria becomes the sponsor of some of them.

Chavdar Georgiev, Sofia, Bulgaria Electronics engineer, freelancer

Dear Mr. Passy, When and how did you become keen on mathematics? I believe that Bulgaria has the potential to become the ‘New Innovator’ in the region and not only - but will we be let do this? Does it depend only on our own government? I have read some official documents and prognosis in where we are regarded only as an agricultural country and a tourist destination. In the NGO ‘Community Council for High Technology’ there are some ideas and proposals which are said to be able to position our country as one of the leading countries in the EU despite the current economic crisis but who cares? I wish you all the best

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Georgiev, My personal experience up to now has approved your point of view and it is difficult for me to controvert your opinion. I became keen on mathematics in the eighth grade but till the tenth grade I still could not make the decision whether to go deeper in mathematics or in physics. After that, during my first and second years at university I got deeply interested in mathematical logics and later on I specialized in computer science. I am absolutely grateful that nowadays I am able to practice my primary profession, even though at a manager level. If the government is lead by a team with a clear vision and first – class qualities which are able to formulate its priorities and to stand up for its position as well as the implementation of its decisions, than it would be possible to:

  1. 1. In the next four to six years Bulgaria can become one of the forty most economically developed countries in the world (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).
  2. 2. During the first period of integration to the leading European economics Bulgaria would become one of the best presented ones, hopefully even in the fist half of them.
  3. 3. In the near future it is not too optimistically to believe that Bulgaria could join the 20 leading economics in the world, and why not even G20 - the structure which was developed on its basis.
  4. 4. Simultaneously, it is highly  possible to make Bulgarians a little  more optimistic.

I deeply believe that if all of us put some efforts, it will be highly possible that we reach the adored aims. You are welcomed to the regular meetings of the Atlantic Club, so that we would be able to continue this discussion.

Tsvetan Najdenov, Sofia Bulgaria Senior specialist at the Supreme Administrative Court

Dear Mr. Passy, I got to know your Trabant AL 8407 last year when I repaired it. This type of cars is one of my favorite ones and I desire to be able to open a museum dedicated to them. I own more than twenty FRG automobiles including a unique one (and I am serious about it). Besides, I own a collection of appliances made in FGR – hair – driers, mixers, radios, equalizers, TV – s, vacuum –cleaners, energy meters and so on.  I would be grateful to have the possibility meet you personally and I deeply hope that you would be so kind to help me open such a museum which is a fact is so many post – communistic countries.

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Najdenov, Thank you a lot for your interest and dedication to AL 8407! I was deeply touched and fired with enthusiasm with this idea. I also have a surprise for you - AL8407 has an understudy which contributed a lot to the history broadly known even nowadays. Do not hesitate sending me an e – mail or calling me in order to continue this consuming discussion and to put this idea into practice. By the way, you are welcomed to the regular meetings of the Atlantic Club.

Petya Velinova, Sofia, Bulgaria,

Dear Mr. Passy, I am grateful for the possibility to contact you personally because for me you are the symbol of the new progressive ideas, flexible mind, diligence and steadiness which showed a great success proved by the satisfaction of the achieved aims and the tears provoked by happiness. I graduated in marketing and business administration and my question is based on my education up to now. So, during the last a few years most of the companies tried to turn the average people in consumers demanding more and more in a minimum time in order to gain more financial profits and to stimulate the selling  of  their products. In my opinion, this tendency can display all spheres of our daily life – from properties to cars, techniques and so on, usually on leasing. The current crisis is the expected end of all these aspects. It is logical for more and more people and it is not worth discussing it at all. My question is dedicated to the possible solutions of this problem – what can be done, by whom and when? It is clear that the current problems cannot be solved with the methods and the instruments by which they were caused. Do you share my point of view that the contemporary economics we all know well is not anymore adequate to the current situation and its ways to influence are not implementable anymore? Logically, I would propose a new way of thinking, new ideas, new approaches…where are the progressively thinking people? Personally, I would join them, if they are present at all and I do not doubt that a lot of other people would follow me. I do not believe in superheroes and their capacities but I deeply believe in the progressively thinking people and the innovators who patiently follow their path up to the desired achievements.

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Velinova, Right now we are trying to find people like you sharing similar views which correspond with the ideas of the Atlantic club ant the Pan – European Movement – Bulgaria. I kindly invite you to the regular meetings of our clubs and you can also send me an e-mail or visit our internet site – atantc-club.org

Iliya Kakaradov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Accountant, freelancer

Dear Mr. Passy, Could you explain to me the advantages and the disadvantages of the membership of Bulgaria in NATO?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Kakaradov, Our membership in NATO can be compared to an auto or a hazard insurance. Of course, they do have their price but their deficiency costs much more! Except the security provided by this membership, there are a lot of other positive aspects such as more secure investments  and people interested in developing the military potential connected directly with  new  technologies. I kindly invite you to the regular meetings of the Atlantic club so that we continue this discussion.

Adriana Dimitrova, Sofia, Bulgaria Chief accountant at Rezon  Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, I would like to express my satisfaction that this week we have such a good company in your face.  Do you think that the more and more dynamic globalization and the invention and the implementation of  the ‘New World Order’ are the only one possible way to overcome the deepening crisis and the split between the most probably effete political system and the current economic results? In your opinion, what is the future role of India, Russia and China?

Solomon Passy: Dear Ms. Dimitrova, Your opinion flatters me even if most probably overrated. Globalization is something natural and it cannot be stopped. We cannot turn back time. Moreover, it will speed up. Regretfully, Europe does not keep pace with contemporary leaders such as China followed by India and Brazil. To be honest, Bulgaria does not belong to this group…yet! I would kindly invite you to join our regular meetings in order to continue this diverting discussion.

Adrian Kataliev, Sofia, Bulgaria Programmer at Rezon Ltd.

Dear Mr. Passy, I would like to thank you for all the positive things you have done for our country. In addition to this, I would kindly ask you to answer the following question - How would you regard this statement – is it possible for everyone to join politics? Does it not require some specific abilities, knowledge or devotion? Should not every single politician have a personal opinion but not one abstained?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Kataliev, Thank you for your positive opinion on the work of my team but I am deeply concerned that the best is going to fort come. You question is extremely interesting and I explained it in details in my article on electronic democracy published on our internet site Atlanctic-Club.org. Shortly explained, if a politician does not have the needed knowledge and experience to make a decision satisfying the needs of maximum citizens, this decision could be harmful for the whole nation. But there is a reliable way to find out the competent ones. I would like to kindly invite you to our regular meetings in order to continue this interesting discussion.

Dany Tomov, Sofia, Bulgaria Electrician, Freelancer

Dear Mr. Passy, I wish you a lot of health and luck in order to be able to reflect positively on a more meaningful existence on this planet based on your knowledge, experience and ideas. As I have to ask a question: How would it become possible for Bulgaria to lie down tries but not to cut them down during the whole year? Who would be pleased to see thinning out woods every six months?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Tomov, Firstly, I would like to thank for your kind wishes and for your deep concern about the environment. Since my first steps in politics I have been involved with ecology, for example ‘The Green Party’, ‘Ecoglasnost’, ‘Antarctica’, ‘The Black Sea Law’, “The Electronic Standardization’. To be honest, I am not a big optimist that soon it will be proposed and maintained a national solution how to prevent our natural heritage. The problem connected with cutting off the woods is word-wide spread one: Brazil, Indonesia. But this fact should not calm us down or reassure us at all. In my opinion, the solution should spread all over the EU members, it means from Brussels to Sofia and so on. So our problem can be solved in a shorter period of time and in a better way. You are kindly welcomed to visit our internet page in order to see our policies about ecology which is a main part of our interests.

Marina Kisyova, Ireland Volunteer at CEV

Dear Mr. Passy, I would like to thank you about the time spent answering our questions. In December 2011 I had the great pleasure to participate in the annual conference of the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin. I deeply believe that the organized events by this club can contribute a lot to the possibility to make mew contacts and to develop and broaden our views on the near future of Bulgaria and its role in the EU. I am interested if there is a grand for Bulgarian students learning in our country for participation in similar events connected with their majors in order to cover their costs? The knowledge of the current situation in world politics is of high importance for the future Bulgarian diplomats.

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Kisyova, Thank you for you interest and you connection with ICD Berlin. This is a very grave organization and I am very proud to be part of it. The Atlantic Club is the official cooperator of it in Bulgaria and we have the great pleasure that our partners often visit our events and help us organize them. Your question is extremely interesting and offers the possibility of a great perspective for future actions. Up to now, the answer is short and simple - no, we still do not have the possibility to finance such students despite our wishes. So, if you have any idea how to think out and implement such a policy – you are welcomed to discuss it with our team – by e-mail, telephone or personally.

Stanislav Karagyaurov, Smolyan, Bulgaria Head of The Regional Health Inspection of Smolyan

Dear Mr.  Passy, in your opinion, what should be changed in our heath care? What do you think about the compulsory health insurance in Bulgaria?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mr. Karagyauriv, I am very glad to have been asked such a question coming from my region. My mother used to work as a doctor in Smolyan so since my early childhood I have been involved to the problems connected with health care, especially in this particular area where the infrastructure is so teared apart. I completely agree that the health care is the least reformed sphere in our country. The last proof of his tendency is the shift of three Health Ministers in the past three years which is a peculiar event. I reserve my judgment because I do not feel fully competent to express a competent opinion!  That is why we need a long-lasting strategy and a clear vision on the next 15-20 years which are not offered by our government right now. It is valid for this particular sector too that Bulgaria will have greatest profits if the EU implements a common policy towards the health care. Then the more developed countries will share their positive practices, even if they have to be brought in more firmly. I would be glad if you attend some of the regular meetings of the Atlantic club here or if you are able to go to some of my visits to Smolyan.

Milena Bogdanova, Sofia, Bulgaria Chief redactor at rezon.bg

Dear Mr. Passy, What is your opinion on supporting the properties of Bulgaria beyond its borders? Some of them were sold in the previous year and the one before it. Do you have any idea if the whole process is going to continue this year too and how are those properties shared out?  What do you mean with your statement that they are a ‘golden mine’?

Solomon Passy: Dear Mrs. Bogdanova, After seven years-old standstill the whole process became more dynamic but the whole policy towards the properties out of our borders has not been out-sorted yet. We have more than 100 properties in the whole world which cost hundred million US dollars. Each single property is treated individually by the current ambassador – sale, rent, exchange with another company or country, renovation, diplomatic or another governmental usage. Our ambassadors are not qualified brokers so they cannot give a proper opinion and most often our government does not take into consideration their points of view. That is why we need a national commercial agency which will manage our properties out of the borders of Bulgaria in the most profitable way for our country. Otherwise, the maintenance of these properties costs a lot yearly. In 2005 at the end of my mandate my team and I made a list of all Bulgarian properties outside the country, we evaluated them and after that we figured out a national tactic for the foundation of such  a agency called ‘Agency for Diplomatic Properties Abroad’. We left an almost ready project for it.  Regretfully, there is not a governmental initiative and our properties abroad generate huge expenses than incomes.Because of the fact that it is a weekly interview with me, I would like to thank a lot probook.com for the opportunity to participate in this event as well as for the interest shown by the readers. You can contact me any time using the given communication channels.

I wish you a lot of luck and happiness during 2012.

 

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