Due to the war in Iraq, Bulgaria's export to the Middle East had dramatically declined and all Bulgarian economic departments had been seriously crippled by the rising price of crude oil, said Behar Nansen, chairman of the Consultative Committee of the Bulgarian Investment Association.

Addressing a seminar on the Iraq war and Bulgaria's business security, Behar said the country's tourism industry was also badly hit and the number of tourists had fallen sharply.

"Bulgaria has not even received US$1 from foreign investors since the US-led war on Iraq began," he was quoted as saying.

Bulgaria hopes to get at least US$20 million of the US$310 million the United States had pledged to pay the 15 countries which are taking part in the war coalition against Iraq.

Bulgaria, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, is among the more than 40 countries the United States has listed as supporters for its military action against Iraq, which entered the 20th day on Tuesday.

The Bulgarian Parliament gave the green light to the United States on Feb. 7, allowing it to use the country's airspace and the Sarafovo airport and deploy about 400 ground troops in this East European country.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2003)