Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05SOFIA423
2005-03-04 14:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ANGLO-AMERICAN SCHOOL

Tags:  ASCH PREL KTIA BU 
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UNCLAS SOFIA 000423 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASCH PREL KTIA BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ANGLO-AMERICAN SCHOOL
AGREEMENT

REF: (A) 04 SOFIA 1416, (B) SOFIA 376

UNCLAS SOFIA 000423

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASCH PREL KTIA BU
SUBJECT: BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ANGLO-AMERICAN SCHOOL
AGREEMENT

REF: (A) 04 SOFIA 1416, (B) SOFIA 376


1. After months of intensive lobbying by Embassy Sofia, the
Parliament ratified with an overwhelming majority March 1 the
U.S.-Bulgarian agreement defining the legal status of the
Anglo-American School (AAS) in Sofia. With its status
defined in law, AAS can now begin construction of a new
campus in the suburbs of Sofia.


2. Ratification of the agreement, which was officially
signed in July 2004 (ref A),confirms the school's status as
a Bulgarian legal entity. Institutionally the school is
separate from the Bulgarian educational system, operates
under its own charter and has received substantial tax-free
privileges.


3. While several foreign schools have been operating in
Bulgaria without formal recognition from the Bulgarian
Government, AAS is the first foreign school to be chartered
in Bulgaria under an international agreement. Since
recognition of AAS was viewed as a precedent, the agreement
underwent more than two years of bureaucratic scrutiny. In
the end, we were able to alleviate some officials' concerns
of possible contravention of the Bulgarian Constitution. One
of the concerns raised was the school's right to own land
through its status as a Bulgarian legal entity, mirroring the
recent debate about amending the Constitution to allow
foreigners to own land (ref B).


4. Ratification of the agreement will also allow AAS to
secure bank financing and begin construction of its new
campus. We anticipate the new school will open 2006-2007 for
grades preK-9, with plans for a full high school over time.
Currently, AAS goes through grade 8.