NEWS

The European states are facing a choice and they will have to make the right decision whether to adopt in their relations the principle of the rule of law or to rely, as they did in the past, on a policy motivated by interests. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said, who received the European Personality of the Year in Southeast and Central Europe Award for 2015 in Sarajevo today. The Bulgarian Head of State received the highest award for his “enormous contribution to stabilizing and improving the relations between the European states and particularly those among the Balkan neighbors.”

 

The international regional jury in Bosnia and Herzegovina presents the prestigious award to people who have contributed to the development not only of their own state, but also of the region of Southeast and Central Europe. So far the President of Poland Bronislav Komorovski, the President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic and the President of Croatia (2010-2015) Ivo Josipovic have received the award.

 

“Every state and every nation in the Balkans can and must make its contribution to achieving our common aim – establishing Southeast Europe as a region of peace, economic growth and shared democratic values,” the Head of State emphasized.

 

“I am sure that the tolerance and the peaceful coexistence of religions, the variety of cultures, that is flourishing here in historic Sarajevo is an example for the world and is part of our recipe for success,” President Plevneliev said in his statement made at the ceremony. The Head of State recalled that the Bulgarian capital Sofia, where a beautiful synagogue, a catholic church, a mosque and an orthodox cathedral are located next to each other, have also contributed throughout the centuries to building the Balkans as a region of  peace, tolerance and mutual respect. “For all of us it is important that Southeast Europe proves that it can overcome the challenges, the differences, the crises and can give an example to the world for the peaceful settlement of conflicts, for democratic transformation and efficient reforms,” Rosen Plevneliev said.

 

“The future of the countries in the Western Balkans is within the European family,” the Head of State was adamant and highlighted that further integration, both within the EU and regionally, is the best way to fight against destabilization, isolation and poverty. Together the 12 countries in the region  include 150 million consumers in a quickly developing common market. 

 

In the Head of State’s view, the European Union is the most successful project in human history for peaceful integration of states and is an “engine” of expanding regional cooperation. “In 2014 the Balkans were affected by unprecedented flooding and we proved that friendship has no borders and that together we can cope with the common challenges,” President Plevneliev said. 

 

Bulgaria remains committed to and will continue to support not only the European prospects of all Western Balkan states, but also the strengthening of the regional partnership. On July 1st 2015 the Republic of Bulgaria took over the South East Europe Cooperation Process Chairmanship-in-Office and the President reiterated our country’s determination to implement three major priorities within its Chairmanship: ensuring better connectivity of the regional transport and energy infrastructure; strengthening the fundamentals of democracy including media freedom, promoting access to internet and new technologies to support an active civil society; strengthening regional cooperation in the security sector and migration issues. During the Bulgarian Chairmanship the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of the leading political format for political dialogue in the Balkans will also be marked. 

 

Before the participants in the forum the President called on for adopting a common approach while opening up new markets, for attracting strategic investors and encouraging tourism and production. “Only together we can guarantee stability and development, because without stability, there is no development,” the Head of State emphasized. The common challenges the Balkans are facing such as fighting terrorism, isolation, poverty and natural disasters, also require closer integration and seeking common solutions, President Plevneliev further said in his statement made at the forum.