BULGARIA

STATEMENT BY H.E. Mr. Plamen Vatchkov
Minister, Chairman of the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications

Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary-General,
Distinguished Heads and Members of Delegations,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am deeply honoured and delighted to have the privilege of addressing the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union, the supreme policy-making body and the most prestigious global forum in the field of telecommunications.

The Republic of Bulgaria, being among the oldest ITU members, has always been aware of the highly important mission of the ITU as an engine for the global telecommunications and information society development. The vital work carried out by ITU has assisted the creation of a global communications network, which now integrates a wide range of technologies.

The information technology and telecommunication development are among the highest priorities of successive Bulgarian Governments. One of the first decrees of the present Government, at the end of 2005, provided for the establishment of the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, as the governmental policy maker in these fields. Participation in the ITU activities is among the main tasks of this Agency. In this one year of our institutional existence we managed to actively involve the Republic of Bulgaria in the second phase of the World Summit of the Information Society in Tunis, the World Telecommunication Development Conference, the Regional Radio Communication Conference, the ITU Sector and ITU Council, Advisory and Working Groups, as well as in the European preparatory work for this Plenipotentiary Conference. In this context I would like to emphasize the fact that recently the Republic of Bulgaria has been chosen to host the ITU Telecom Europe, which is scheduled to take place between 3rd and 6th December 2007 in Sofia. This is a rewarding outcome of the joint efforts of public and private Bulgarian entities from the IT and Telecommunications Sector. At the same time, we regard the hosting of this event as Bulgaria’s contribution to the work of ITU.

Mr. Chairman,

On the eve of the Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union, the Bulgarian Government has re-affirmed the high significance it attaches to the ITU mission and activities. We look upon the candidature of Bulgaria for the Council of ITU within the context of this commitment. To us, a possible re-election would be an honour and high responsibility at the same time. Bulgaria has the ability and experience to contribute to the process of overcoming the challenges ahead of ITU in order to transform and streamline this organisation and make it more efficient and responsive to the dynamic requirements of the Telecommunication Sector and the needs of its members. I am confident that by working together we can achieve this goal.

I believe the Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya will trace the way forward for the development of global telecommunications in the next four years. I am sure that it will elect to its bodies the countries and persons needed for the competent management of the ITU and the successful achievement of ITU goals, to the benefit of all countries and nations in the world.

In conclusion, I would like to thank our hosts for extending their exceptional hospitality to us and for the perfect organisation of this Conference. I would like to express our gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President of the Republic of Turkey, to the Turkish Government and the people of Turkey, and to all persons directly involved in the organisation of this remarkable event.

Thank you for your attention.