Bulgaria, Sofia, 12 "Vitosha" Blvd, fl 6 phone 359/2/ 9876550, 
Bulgaria should become a member of European Union in short time
I expect Spain to ratify your EU accession agreement in December, stated the Ambassador of Spain, His Excellency Mr. Fernando Arias before Club "Journalists Against Corruption".
"Bulgaria should become a member of European Union as soon as possible and I hope this would happen on January 1, 2007", said the Ambassador of Spain in Bulgaria, His Excellency Mr. Fernando Arias, who accompanied by other representatives of Spanish Embassy had a meeting with Club "Journalists Against Corruption". He motivated his opinion with the reason, this way the respective reforms in the political and judicial system in our country shall be implemented sooner, we shall grow stronger and what is extremely important the level of corruption shall be reduced.
Mr. Arias expressed his disagreement with the statement that in case the reforms have not been finalized on time, Bulgaria should wait for another year. In his opinion, this is wrong and our accession should not be postponed with another year in order our country to be approved for full member of European Union.
The diplomat was firm in his opinion that the sooner our country access the European family, the faster respective reforms shall be implemented. "I am sure a positive circle shall be launched which shall bring a political stability, your country shall become strong enough, the necessary funds shall be provided and your salaries shall be competitive with the salaries in Europe ", stated the Ambassador of Spain.
Mr. Arias expressed his admiration from the activity of the journalists club and underlined that the fight against corruption was one of the most important issues on our way to Europe. He reminded the recent visit of the EU commissioner Olly Rhen who stated in his one-hour speech before Bulgarian ministers and European ambassadors that Bulgaria still is not performing successfully in terms of high-level corruption.
According to Mr. Fernando Arias, legal instruments shall not solve the problems with corruption. In order to have successful fight against the corruption there should be a strong state, strong judicial power, economy able to produce money in order to pay taxes and salaries. All this could not be made within one month and with the help of new legislation. "It is necessary this process to be implemented with patience and with political design in order the chain in economy to be disentangled. This shall bring the investments you need and trust which you all wish". Mr. Arias thinks if this happens, it shall increase the level of salaries in state area and decrease the corruption, and the role of journalist's process is extremely important.
The chairman of Club "Journalists Against Corruption" Mrs. Reneta Nikolova donated the Ambassador Mr. Arias with an icon of St. Georgi and thanked him for his worm words. She assured Mr. Arias that the Club members shall do their best in order this evil practice in society what is the corruption to be overcome and we can continue with joint efforts our progress.
Mariela Baleva
