385. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Bulgaria1
SUBJECT
- Letter From President Zhivkov to President Reagan on Bilateral Cooperation Against Narcotics Trafficking.
- 1.
- C—Entire text.
- 2.
- Following is the text of President Zhivkov’s reply to the President’s letter on bilateral cooperation in the field of narcotics control,2 delivered to the Department by Bulgarian Ambassador Zhulev during a December 23 call on A/S Ridgway (report septel).3
- 3.
- Begin text. Esteemed Mr. President:
I would like, first of all, to thank you for your letter forwarded to me through your Ambassador in Sofia. In the letter you address an alarming problem—both for the United States and a number of other countries—a problem that concerns the health of the young generation which is the future of every nation. This is what makes it particularly important and requires every sincere effort on the part of all of us. Fortunately, the problem of narcotics abuse does not exist in my country. Due to its geographic situation however, the People’s Republic of Bulgaria is directly engaged in the efforts against drug trafficking, mainly by Turkish traffickants, as well as by citizens of some other countries. As a member of the United Nations and the Customs Cooperation Board and in accordance with the principles of its foreign policy, as well as guided by deeply humanitarian concerns, Bulgaria has always taken and continues to take today most decisive measures without sparing financial and moral means in carrying a permanent and uncompromising fight against drug trafficking.
I would like to bring to your attention, Mr. President, that in its anti-drug efforts, the People’s Republic of Bulgaria has made a substantial contribution, that has been recognized and appreciated by many, including the United States customs. Bulgaria was one of the first countries that responded to the United Nations appeal in the 70-ties for enforcing the measures against the illicit drug traffic, as well as to the request of the US Government for cooperation.
Throughout the years, between the Bulgarian and the US customs offices there has been cooperation, which contributes also for the strengthening and improvement of the efforts of customs worldwide. In 1978 and 1960 the Bulgarian city of Varna hosted two international customs conferences of mutual assistance against drug trafficking.
We note with satisfaction the achievements in our fights against the illicit drug trafficking and we are ready to energetically join in the efforts both in improving large scale international cooperation, and in working with any country which sincerely wishes to do so.
Bulgaria participates actively in the work of the UN Commission on Narcotics, the preparatory body for the forthcoming UN world conference on drug abuse and drug trafficking in June 1987.
Mr. President, in your letter, you mentioned the establishment of cooperation between our two countries against narcotics. This fact bears satisfaction for us too, and we welcome it as a confirmation of our understanding that in solving this problem there should be joint efforts, notwithstanding existing ideological differences. The results that we have achieved give me the ground to believe that we might have the same constructive approach in solving the other problems of [Page 1239] our bilateral relations which would lead to their development for the benefit of the Bulgarian and the American people.
Sincerely,
Todor Zhivkov.
End text.
- Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D860979–0427. Confidential. Drafted by Lang; approved by Wenick.↩
- See Document 384.↩
- See Document 386.↩