site.btaPresident Tusk: There Can Be No Stability in Europe without the Balkans

Skopje, April 27 (BTA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with European Council President Donald Tusk within the framework of a leaders' meeting of the countries of the Brdo-Brioni Process

During the meeting Tusk thanked Borissov for the preparations for the EU-Western Balkans Summit due to take place in Sofia in May.

Borissov told Tusk that he had won forever the hearts of Bulgarians with a speech he delivered during the opening of the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the European Union. Borissov said: "I didn't expect that the President of the European Council will tour the Balkans in order to get a first-hand experience. I know that this is tiring but you can get a full picture in this way. We can convey to the European Council the enormous expectations in the region for a European perspective." He thanked the political class in the Balkans for understanding that now is the time for the countries to move on.

"We managed to show Europe that without the Balkans there can be no stability and peace in the region and in Europe," said Tusk. He added that this wonТt be possible without setting a clear European perspective to these countries.

"We are not diplomats by nature but we managed to accomplish a lot, especially you, with regards to the upcoming summit," Tusk said. He commended Borissov for his approach and for his work as all assessments about the Western Balkans turned out to be true.