Ivan Hristov Bashev
Encyclopedia
Ivan Hristov Bashev (February 11, 1916 – December 13, 1971), was a Bulgaria
n diplomat
who was Foreign Minister of Bulgaria from 1962 to 1971. Bashev headed the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry until his death on December 13, 1971 and was considered one of "most remarkable foreign ministers of Bulgaria."
, Bulgaria
. Ivan Bashev graduated in law
prior to joining the communist party
. He was editor-in-chief of the national daily Narodna Mladezh from 1944 to 1946. He joined the Bulgarian Communist Party
in the late 1946 and was elected to the party's central committee in 1962.
In 1956 Bashev was appointed Deputy Minister of Education followed by the appointment of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1962 he joined as Foreign Minister
the Government which was formed by Todor Zhivkov
after the fall of the Anton Yugov
government and the defeat of the Stalinist and pro-Chinese party faction headed by Vulko Chervenkov
. In 1966 Zhivkov reorganized his government, and Bashev was allowed to retain his post. When the Stanko Todorov
cabinet was formed in July 1971, he again was allowed to keep his post. On December 13, 1971 Bashev was found frozen to death. According to a Foreign Ministry statement, he was alone, and had been caught in a sudden snowstorm while skiing on mount Vitosha
near Sofia
. He had apparently fallen, been injured, and died of cold and exhaustion before being found by the mountain rescue service.
Bashev was instrumental in reestablishing relations between Bulgaria
and Denmark
. On April 7, 1968 Ivan Bashev became the first visitor of a East European Foreign Minister to Reykjavík
, Iceland
. The visits were instrumental in gaining the elimination of visa regime between Bulgaria and Denmark, Norway
and Iceland. (an ironic sidenote: In 1989 just after the establishment of a real parliamentary democracy in Bulgaria
those agreements were denounced and the visa regime was restored).
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who was Foreign Minister of Bulgaria from 1962 to 1971. Bashev headed the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry until his death on December 13, 1971 and was considered one of "most remarkable foreign ministers of Bulgaria."
Biography
Ivan Bashev was born February 11, 1916 in SofiaSofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. Ivan Bashev graduated in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
prior to joining the communist party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
. He was editor-in-chief of the national daily Narodna Mladezh from 1944 to 1946. He joined the Bulgarian Communist Party
Bulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
in the late 1946 and was elected to the party's central committee in 1962.
In 1956 Bashev was appointed Deputy Minister of Education followed by the appointment of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1962 he joined as Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
the Government which was formed by Todor Zhivkov
Todor Zhivkov
Todor Khristov Zhivkov was a communist politician and leader of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from March 4, 1954 until November 10, 1989....
after the fall of the Anton Yugov
Anton Yugov
Anton Tanev Yugov was a leading member of the Bulgarian Communist Party served as Prime Minister of the country from 1956 to 1962. Anton Tanev Yugov is Honorary Citizen of Tirana, Albania....
government and the defeat of the Stalinist and pro-Chinese party faction headed by Vulko Chervenkov
Vulko Chervenkov
-Biography:Chervenkov was born in Zlatitsa, Bulgaria. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1919 and participated in communist youth group activities and newspaper editing. He took part in the failed 1923 September Uprising and was sentenced to death, but was allowed to emigrate to the...
. In 1966 Zhivkov reorganized his government, and Bashev was allowed to retain his post. When the Stanko Todorov
Stanko Todorov
Stanko Todorov Georgiev was a Bulgarian communist politician.Todorov was born in Pernik Province. Before and during World War II he was a worker. He became interested in communism, and joined the underground Bulgarian Communist Party in 1943...
cabinet was formed in July 1971, he again was allowed to keep his post. On December 13, 1971 Bashev was found frozen to death. According to a Foreign Ministry statement, he was alone, and had been caught in a sudden snowstorm while skiing on mount Vitosha
Vitosha
Vitosha is a mountain massif, on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Vitosha is one of the tourists symbols of Sofia and the closest site for hiking, alpinism and skiing. Convenient bus lines and rope ways render the mountain easily accessible. Vitosha has the outlines of an enormous...
near Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
. He had apparently fallen, been injured, and died of cold and exhaustion before being found by the mountain rescue service.
Bashev was instrumental in reestablishing relations between Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. On April 7, 1968 Ivan Bashev became the first visitor of a East European Foreign Minister to Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. The visits were instrumental in gaining the elimination of visa regime between Bulgaria and Denmark, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Iceland. (an ironic sidenote: In 1989 just after the establishment of a real parliamentary democracy in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
those agreements were denounced and the visa regime was restored).
External links
- Jordan Baev, Two Poles of the Cold War Confrontation in Europe: Bulgaria and the Nordic Countries
- Minutes of the Joint Session of the CC of the BCP and the Council of Ministers - Report on the PCC Meeting by the Bulgarian Foreign Minister (Ivan Bashev) / Стенографски протокол на съвместното заседание на ЦК на БКП и МС, 26 януари 1965
- Bulgaria, Foreign relations of the US, 1964-1968, Volume XVII, Eastern Europe, Department of State, Washington, DC, nasser.bibalex.org
- catalog.lib.washington.edu:2082
- Bulgarian-Danish Relations, p. 22, Europe 2001, issue 1, year XII, 2005