MIHAILOVA CHARMS
WASHINGTON, D.C.


From visits with Madelaine Albright to Gordon Smith to David Dreier to Hillary Clinton, 
Nadezhda Mihailova did much to begin to change the image of Bulgaria in Washington, 
D.C. during her brief time here, June 16-18.

Mrs. Mihailova began her official visit to Washington with a breakfast with the directors 
of the Bulgarian-American Society, whose purpose is to promote American interest in 
Bulgaria.  As a director of the Society, I had a welcomed opportunity to learn of her three 
objectives in Washington:  to lobby for the inclusion of Bulgaria on the second round of 
admissions to NATO, to promote U.S. investment in the country, and to raise the profile 
of Bulgaria in the U.S.  

The former two goals realistically were more difficult to accomplish and longer term but 
the other objective of beginning to change the image of Bulgaria in America is one which I 
believe she did accomplish in her brief time in Washington, D.C.

Having observed numerous official Bulgarian visits to Washington since 1990, from 
President Zhelov  and Prime Ministers, Ministers and parliamentary delegations, the 
breadth and depth of her appointments was second to no other prior visit.  It is not 
automatic that the U.S. Secretary of State hosts a luncheon for a visiting foreign minister 
but Secretary Albright hosted a luncheon for Mrs. Mihailova at the State Department.  A 
good personal relationship between the foreign ministers of our two countries is, of 
course, invaluable.

The U.S. Congress, too often, preoccupied with domestic concerns, at times does not give 
foreign dignitaries the attention they warrant.  Here again, putting Bulgaria on the map 
was effectively furthered with meetings Mrs. Mihailova had with appropriate Members of 
Congress.

Senator Gordon Smith, the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on European Affairs, 
was the right person to see about the prospects of Bulgarian membership in NATO.  I 
talked to Senator Smith after their meeting and he said, "Mrs. Mihailova provided 
invaluable insight into the many reforms Bulgaria has undertaken.  I am pleased that 
Bulgaria has chosen to join the western family of democracies, and hopefully will soon be 
in position to fully integrate into our security and political institutions."  

Congressman Lee Hamilton, the former Democratic Chairman of the International 
Relations Committee in the House of Representatives also saw Mrs. Mihailova.

Perhaps, most interesting from a personal standpoint was the new Foreign Minister's 
meeting with Congressman David Dreier, recognized as one of the Congress' leading 
proponents of international trade and investment.  In 1991, under the auspicious of an 
international exchange program, she interned for the Congressman and now she returned 
as a foreign minister.  In my conversation with Mr. Dreier after the meeting, he observed, 
"This is a truly inspirational story.  Here is someone who first came to the U.S. six years 
ago from a country in turmoil with democracy in an embryonic stage.  Now, Nadezhda 
returns as a symbol of the hopes and inspiration of the Bulgarian people."

There were other meetings worthy of note, including discussions with senior officials at 
the Department of Defense and National Security Council, two lectures and a meeting 
with editors and reporters of The Washington Post.

The Post wrote subsequently that the "demure yet charismatic" Mrs. Mihailova delivered 
"a candid and clear-eyed assessment of her country's journey to good health."  
Furthermore, impressed with her presentation, the Post observed, "Foreign ministers 
urging the membership in NATO, a club of tough-talking men at ease with the jargon of 
armies, training, and military hardware, now have female competition in their endeavors to 
strike a strategic pose."

Appropriately, the finale was a visit with the U.S. First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Congressman Lee Hamilton, in his address to a conference sponsored by the Bulgarian-
American Society last pointed out that Bulgaria is competing with more than 100 other 
countries in trying to attract America's attention.  Mrs. Mihailova understands as she said 
in her words that  in the past the image of Bulgaria was "bad or nonexistent."

Mrs. Mihailova's brief visit to Washington is worthy of applause.  Senator Smith, The 
Washington Post, and Congressman Dreier said it better than I could.



Mark Bloomfield
U.S. Editor

SEGA