DECREE ON BULGARIAN TERRITORIAL AND COASTAL WATERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700050308-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 22, 2011
• Sequence Number: 308
• Publication Date: March 19, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/23: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700050308-3
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
CENTRAL SECURLIGENCEORM AGENCY r[
REPOR
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL T n 1
~
Transportation - Water
Military - Warships
Semiweekly newspaper.
DATE
PUBLISHED
LANGUAGE
23 Oct, 9 Nov 1951
Bulgarian
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SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
DECREE ON BULGARIA' WITORIALAND COASTAL WATERS
The following is a decree on territorial and coastal waters, dated
10 October 1951, with amendments dated 31 October 1951:
1. The territorial waters of the People's Republic of Bulgaria
extend 12 nautical miles to the open sea from the shore ine, from islands,
from the farthest harbor hydraulic structures, and from the line demarcat-
ing the end of coastal waters.
A nautical mile is 1,852 meters.
2. The waters enclosed between the coast and the straight line from
Cape Constantine to rape Ilandzhik, in the case of Stalin Bay, and from Cape
Emine to Cape Mosleniya (Zekhtin Borun), in the case of Burgas P^v, are
considered as coastal waters of Bulgaria.
3. In order to insure the security of the country, the Council of
Ministers may decree that isolated sectors of the territorial waters of Bul-
garia will be closed to all navigation. Prior to the amendment, Article 3
read as follows: That part of the territorial waters which extends 3 miles
from the-shore line of the territory of Bulgaria represents the sea-boundary
strip of Bulgaria]
4. The territorial waters of Bulgaria are separated from the terri-
torialwaters of neighboring countries by the geographic parallel passing
through the point at which the land border meets the sea.
5. The territorial. and coastal waters of Bulgaria, the air space over
them, and the soil and subsoil covered by them are part of the territory
of Bulgaria and therefore subject to its laws.
CONFIDENTIAL
NSRB
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CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL
6. Bulgaria exercises its sovereignty over the territorial waters, in
accordance with existing laws, the articles of international law, and treaties
and agreements signed with other states.
7. The ports of Stalin (Varna) and Sozopol are closed to foreign vessels.
Other ports of Bulgaria may be closed by a decree of the Council of Ministers.
8. Nonmilitary foreign vessels may pass through, stop. and anchor in
territorial and coastal waters of Bulgaria (but not in sectors of the terri-
torial waters mentioned in Article 3), as well as enter ports open to foreign
vessels, if the vessel's course coincides with the.prescribed course, if it has
been damaged, or if it is seeking shelter from storm.
Passage of such vessels through the sectors of the territorial waters
mentioned in Article 3 is granted only when vessels enter or leave ports, and
then only along lanes designated by the port authorities.
If, dur'ng violent storms, a foreign nonmilitary vessel is in danger,
it may request permission to enter one of the bays or harbors southwest of
Cape Kaliakra or Cape Emine. It may remain there only until the storm is
over.
9. Foreign warships may pass through, stop, or anchor in the territorial
and coastal waters of Bulgaria or enter one of the ports open to foreign
vessels, only with prior permission from the Bulgarian government or in case
of damage or storm.
10. All foreign underwater craft are forbidden, while submerged, to
travel, stop, lie on the bottom, or anchor .n the territorial and coastal
waters of Bulgaria.
Any underwater craft found submerged within the territorial and
coastal waters of Bulgaria will be pursued and destroyed without warning, and
no responsibility will be taken for the consequences of such action.
Article 9 applies to underwater craft navigating on the surface.
11. Foreign vessels, while within the territorial and coastal waters
of Bulgaria, may not catch marine animals, acquire marine products, make
measurements, investigations, studies, photographs, or conduct war exercises,
target practice, etc., nor use radio-transmitting and radio-locating equip-
ment or sound-emitting equipment other than that needed for strictly navi-
gational purposes. They must strictly observe international regulations, the
laws of Bulgaria, and the directives issued on the basis of these laws by the
appropriate government organs on safeguarding public order, security, sani-
tary requirements, and the financial interests of Bulgaria.
Radio-transmitting equipment may be used only in case of damage to
the ship or in rescuing shipwrecked people. Permission for depth sounding
will be given only to vessels which have run aground, and then only if the
sounding occurs in the immediate vicinity of the vessel.
12. A foreign vessel which violates the laws of Bulgaria, the established
international regulations, or treaties concerning navigation while within the
territorial or coastal waters of Bulgaria, will be asked, by means of estab-
lished international signals or by means of a warning shot from the coast guard
or port authorities, to leave the territorial waters of Bulgaria.
CONFIDEN I
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GONFIDENTlQ
CONFIDENTIAL
13. A foreign warship which refuses to comply with the warning to leave
the territorial waters of Bulgaria may be placed under fire, and no responsi-
bility will be taken for the consequences of such action.
14. Foreign nonmilitary vessels which are guilty of major violations
(contraband, harboring persons without documents or persons sought by the
authorities, etc.) or which-do not comply with warnings to leave the terri-
torial waters of Bulgaria may be detained by the appropriate units of the
may be guard,and the responsible persons may be brought to trial or the ship
required pay the fines and taxes set by law.
A vessel which refuses to be detained and attempts to flee to the open
sea may be pursued continuously by coast guard units, which will attempt to
capture it before it reaches the territorial waters of another state.
15. Foreign warships on authorized transit through the territorial
waters of Bulgaria or entering into its ports do not pay any taxes, unless
some special services are rendered to them.
16. The Council of Ministers will add regulations to this decree after
the Minister of Interior has made his reports.
17. The present decree repeals the decree and law of 1935 on territorial
waters, as well as all conflicting legislation.
The execution of the present decree is entrusted to the Minister of
Interior.
CONFIDEN TI a
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/23: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700050308-3