Ignacio Ramonet is editor-in-chief of the Le Monde Diplomatique newspaper, doctor in semiotics and history of art, professor in the University of Paris VII: Denis Diderot, associated professor in the University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain and the University in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
He is founder of ATTAC organization and is its honored president. Ramonet is the author of many works in the area of media and geopolitics, including Chewing Gum for the Eyes (1981), Communicatios - victims of merchants (1989), New Powers, New World Masters (1996), Alphabet of Globalization (2004), Iraq – history of one catastrophe. Ramonet has been awarded a number of world prizes for journalism.
At the invitation of the Bulgarian edition of the Le Monde Diplomatique Mr. Ramonet is visiting Bulgaria from May 9th to 12th. His last visit to Bulgaria was in the summer of 2005.

Ignacio Ramonet in an interview for Focus News Agency.


Focus: Mr. Ramonet, what changes in Bulgaria can you notice after your 2005 visit? Our country is already a full EU member.
Ignacio Ramonet: I would like to say that we encouraged Bulgaria’s accession to the EU, backed its membership, insisted on Bulgaria joining the Union as soon as possible. I am very happy Bulgaria’s membership is already a fact.
Actually, I can notice some changes in the current situation since my visit two years ago. First I would like to point to Bulgaria’s economic activity, which I noticed while traveling not only in Sofia, but also in other towns.
Second, the people I talk to seem much calmer. Those worries troubling common citizens, journalists and some politicians years ago are gone. I mean worries that Bulgaria’s membership could be delayed on legal grounds.
Third, I can sense some political leaders’ responsibility – responsibility for obligations Bulgaria committed to fulfill.

Focus: Which are the new challenges in the contemporary epoch? What is Bulgaria’s role?
Ignacio Ramonet: The Le Monde Diplomatique regularly publishes articles on the common challenges, but as to Bulgaria – it is “on the border” of two or three main challenges for Europe.
Firstly, Bulgaria borders on ex-Yugoslavian countries, Serbia in particular, i.e. it is settled in a not-that-stable region. In this sense Bulgaria has a significant role not only in politics, but also in the area of security.
Secondly, Bulgaria borders on Turkey – a state that poses a lot of questions and is a topic in many EU debates. I believe Bulgaria could make its contribution to the “clarification” of the problem.
Thirdly, Bulgaria borders on the Black Sea making it an EU border as well. It is clear Black Sea bed is connected to Russia, to energy issues. Bulgaria has always maintained good relations with Russia in historical, religious and cultural context. So Bulgaria could contribute to easing possible tension between Russia and the EU and in this way playing an important role.
Last but not least, Bulgaria is situated close to the eastern Mediterranean – a tense region, for instance Cyprus, Kurdistan, Mideast, Lebanon, Iraq war, Israel-Palestinian Authority conflict. These are issues Bulgaria is quite familiar with. These are common challenges for all of us – challenges that involve Bulgaria. Your country can make its constructive contribution to all these issues.

Focus: The Balkans also face a lot of unresolved problems – in Kosovo, and now in Turkey. What is your stand?
Ignacio Ramonet: Diplomacy in the Balkans should go on, putting all efforts in stabilizing the region, especially the former Yugoslavian states. The problem in Kosovo is quite delicate. You know there is a proposal to establish an independent state. Russia however is “reserved”, and Serbia opposes. These are delicate problems which require time and patience to be solved.
Diplomacy and negotiations have to be at the center. In any case, Bulgaria’s role is very significant as to the regional stability encouraged by the EU. In quite a natural way Bulgaria is turning into one of the Balkan “leaders”, as this is a country that has not entered into a conflict with any of the other states in the region. Bulgaria is a balanced state, which is important for the rest of the Balkans. Of course, the European Union will also support the resolution of regional problems.

Focus: What about the role of the media in the globalized world, of editions like yours in particular?
Ignacio Ramonet: The media play a considerable role, especially in crises because the media should not add to the spread of hatred, escalation or stimulation of tension, as this has already happened at another time and another place. I believe it is important for the media, especially in regions facing numerous dangers, to give serious information, set out all aspects of the problem, without adding fuel to the fire – this is exactly what the Le Monde Diplomatique does.

Focus: What are the Le Monde Diplomatique’s messages? Who are they directed to?
Ignacio Ramonet: This is a very serious newspaper, even “too stern”, if I can put it that way. Our messages are directed to students, lecturers, experts, researchers, politicians, businessmen – to all who are interested in politics, mostly international politics. Because international politics always reflects at national level, even if the problem is distant in space. In today’s globalized world problems that seem distant in fact reflect inevitably on the situation in our own country. That is why the Le Monde Diplomatique’s objective is to give information supported by evidence, serious information because if people are well-informed, they can more effectively perform their civil role in a democratic state.
Katarina KOLEVA