Bulgaria: Political Relations between Bulgaria and the Soviet Union

A file of documents concerning Bulgarian-Soviet political relations. Subjects discussed in the file include rumours of a possible joint Bulgarian-Soviet military exercise in Bulgaria; possible East German participation in a joint exercise with the Soviet Union in Bulgaria; Bulgaria's desire to avoid increased military expenditure; and Bulgaria's trade relations with the West. Other subjects discussed in the file include differences between Bulgaria and the Soviet Union concerning Bulgarian economic and industrial policies; Bulgarian-Yugoslav relations regarding Macedonia; Soviet policy towards the Macedonia issue, including a report that in 1974 the Soviet Union asked the Bulgarians to grant the region of Pirin Macedonia to Yugoslavia; the role of Macedonia in Bulgarian-Soviet and Soviet-Yugoslav relations; and the extent to which Bulgaria pursued policies independent of the Soviet Union. Documents in the file include a copy of Canadian commentary on a West German paper entitled "Bulgaria: Is It Really a Soviet Clone?".