NEWS

Bulgaria calls for turning the Black Sea from a zone of increased risk and threat into a zone of national and international security – a zone of safety, a zone of free transport, energy, trade and digital corridors, of tourism, a zone where different cultures, religions and political systems meet in peace. President Iliana Iotova said this in her address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

 

The main topic of the President's address was the security and stability of the Black Sea region as an integral part of security in all its dimensions. The war in Ukraine has moved beyond the territorial waters of the countries involved in the conflict and this affects Bulgaria directly, today and now. But the problem in the Black Sea has grown from a regional into a global one, Iliana Iotova stressed. She pointed out that the regional consequences, together with those of the war in Iran and the lack of water in the Danube River, pose a risk of a food crisis. The President also raised the issue of the sustainability and balance of marine ecosystems in the Black Sea, which are even more severely threatened by the war in Ukraine.

 

The head of state said that Bulgaria is preparing an initiative for which it will seek, together with the countries of the region and all interested parties, agreement and joint action to ensure free and safe navigation in the Black Sea. We are convinced that this issue deserves the attention of the United Nations, Iotova stressed.

 

Peace and security are our responsibility. In conditions of conflicts that claim thousands of human lives and leave behind enormous destruction, we must step up our efforts to prevent and end military hostilities, the head of state said.

 

The President stressed that the main challenge remains the war in Ukraine, whose consequences extend far beyond the immediate area of hostilities. It is high time to move the conflict from the military to the political and diplomatic field. This means negotiations, which require dialogue and at least a minimum degree of trust, backed by the relevant guarantees, Iliana Iotova said.

 

Can we achieve peace in Ukraine? Obviously, we can, the President stressed. She again pointed out that there is no military solution for Ukraine. Peace cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and Russia, Iotova added.

 

The head of state went on to say that Europe cannot simply be an observer, but must be a real participant with its own proposal for the post-war security architecture of the continent. Military security should be complemented by the second pillar of security – the contractual and legal pillar, which will guarantee that strengthening defence potential will bring more security, rather than a new arms race, Iliana Iotova said emphatically. From the UN's highest rostrum, she issued an appeal: we need a vision for the day after next based on the formula Europe of peace through deterrent defence and shared security.

 

In her address, the President also stressed the need for political solutions to de-escalate conflicts in the Middle East. A new cycle of destruction, humanitarian crisis and violence must not be allowed in Gaza, Iotova said. From the UN rostrum, the President paid tribute to Captain Marin Marinov, who lost his life in Gaza while carrying out his humanitarian mission.

It is necessary to create conditions for stabilisation and reconstruction, reliable guarantees for Israel's security and effective Palestinian governance. The only sustainable solution is that of two states – Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. This is the only path that can give the two peoples the prospect of a dignified life and a peaceful future, the head of state said.

 

In the context of developments surrounding Iran, Iotova highlighted the issue of the security of the world's sea routes and, first and foremost, the route through the Strait of Hormuz. The head of state said that Bulgaria supports the freedom and safety of international shipping and calls for full compliance with applicable international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

 

Global conflicts have introduced new, previously unknown threats, even jeopardising nuclear security through irresponsible attacks on nuclear facilities, the President said. She stressed that Bulgaria remains committed to strengthening the international architecture for non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control and to the three pillars of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We support the goal of a world without nuclear weapons, which should be pursued through pragmatic steps – greater transparency, verifiable control and reductions in arsenals, Iliana Iotova said.

 

The President was emphatic that no country can tackle terrorism, radicalisation, disinformation and cyber threats on its own. She said that, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024–2026 period, Bulgaria is working for a social environment in which discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech have no place. Freedom of the media, protection of journalists and access to reliable information are an essential part of this environment, particularly amid growing disinformation, Iotova said.

 

The President's address also focused on the rights of children and women. Children's rights and access to education, the equal participation of women and girls in public processes and the full inclusion of young people in them are key to building societies in which everyone is part of the decisions that shape their future, Iotova said, stressing that inequalities in the world are becoming deeper. Bulgaria supports concrete international efforts in this direction – from guaranteeing every child's right to education to the consistent implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. The protection of human rights is measured not only by commitments made, but also by real opportunities for participation, education and a dignified life. She stressed Bulgaria's unwavering commitment to sustainable investment in education, science and culture.

 

This is our common goal – societies in which differences do not divide, hatred does not determine, and the rights and dignity of every person are protected, the head of state stressed.

 

According to Iotova, the world today needs not simply more dialogue, but more trust, more responsibility and a greater capacity to act together. Multilateral cooperation only makes sense if it leads to decisions, and decisions – to action and results, the President stressed.

She stressed that people, with their lives, dignity, rights and opportunities, must remain at the centre. According to her, this requires an international order based on the UN Charter and international law. Iotova said that the UN must not only formulate principles, but also have the strength to uphold them. Let us ensure that the United Nations is not merely a forum for discussing crises, but a driving force for preventing and peacefully resolving them, the President stressed.

 

Iotova was emphatic that reform of the Security Council is necessary, with fairer regional representation and greater legitimacy and effectiveness. She said that Bulgaria supports its expansion, including with at least one additional non-permanent seat for the Eastern European regional group.

 

The future will not necessarily belong to the strongest, but to those who succeed in building trust, the head of state stressed. There is no greater responsibility before our peoples than to pass on to future generations a world in which cooperation is stronger than confrontation, dialogue is stronger than hate speech, and peace is stronger than war. And Bulgaria is ready to contribute to this not only as a consumer of security, but as a creator of security, the President concluded.