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President Rumen Radev
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Bulgaria supports the initiative of France and Germany to conduct a direct dialogue with Russia, in which solutions to open issues should be sought. This was stated by President Rumen Radev to journalists in Brussels after his participation in the European Council meeting, the press office of our head of state announced. The head of state stressed that this is also about the level of the EU’s ambition to be a factor or an observer on a global scale.
“I reminded all leaders that we signed together in 2017. The Rome Declaration, which clearly states that Europe must be a strategic factor on the world stage, “said the President. According to him, realism is needed in geopolitics and it is no coincidence that at the last European Council he expressed the position that seven years of sanctions have not led to the desired results and therefore it is necessary to look for new tools to develop relations with Russia. “Especially for the de-escalation of tensions, because we share a common European space with Russia, we pursue common goals in the fight against climate change, and especially in terms of security. We are only losing from the mutual opposition and that is why Presidents Biden and Putin gave the first signal in this direction, “Rumen Radev pointed out.
The proposals in the report of the High Representative and the European Commission contain clearly substantiated arguments as to why relations with Russia should be expanded, so that the initiative of Chancellor Merkel and President Macron is a logical continuation, Rumen Radev added.
Bulgaria’s recovery and sustainability plan should be designed to reach as many people as possible and lead to real modernization of the country, the president said in response to a question. The head of state reminded that the caretaker government is working hard on the Plan, after the previous rulers did not submit their project, which would be in line with European requirements and would rely not only on absorption of funds, but would lead to economic growth with clear priorities.
The project to build an air ambulance system with 6 helicopters to allow a response in the first “golden hour” of receiving a distress signal was highlighted by the president as an example in this regard. “That is why we are working hard in the interest of the people and I hope that soon in July this plan will be proposed for public discussion and submitted to the next parliament,” Rumen Radev said.
Asked about the discussion on the anti-pedophilia law passed by Hungary, the president stressed that rumors that Hungary would be expelled from the Union or leave on its own because of this law are greatly exaggerated. “Condemning Hungary will not solve the problem,” Rumen Radev stressed. He said he had called for the European values such as freedom, tolerance and human dignity not to be used as clichés, as well as for their precise use, during the debate. “The right to self-determination is a fundamental value and it must be upheld, but no one has the right to impose their understandings and worldview on others,” the head of state said. “That is why I called on Prime Minister Orban to share not just the details of this law, but the motives and reasons why they adopted it. Orban made it very clear that, in their opinion, this law is aimed at protecting the rights of the child and the family, “Rumen Radev added.
The attempt to seek legitimacy abroad cannot compensate for the loss of legitimacy inside Bulgaria, the head of state stressed in response to a question about the allegations of the former rulers that they are subject to repression by the caretaker government, and the country is in the process of restoration of communism. “It is absurd to make such arguments right here in Brussels, as the European Parliament has adopted a resolution against the former rulers that fully exposes the sins of their rule. You can see that later our partners from the USA imposed unprecedented sanctions on Bulgaria, and on businessmen close to the former prime minister “, the president reminded.
Rumen Radev also noted that the topic of the rule of law will become increasingly relevant in Bulgaria and here Europe has lagged behind the United States in the implementation of practical measures to combat corruption. The President also stressed that the report on the EU’s relations with Russia identified corruption and money laundering as one of the main problems. “The EU has claims and looks with a microscope at what is happening in Russia on this topic, but Bulgaria has so far remained on the periphery. And we have to look first in our house “, the head of state commented. The President called for spending under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan and future operational programs to be subject to even stronger EU scrutiny.
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