site.btaPresident Radev: "Connectivity, Cooperation, Security Are Cornerstones of Central and Eastern Europe's Development"

Warsaw, July 7 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said that connectivity, cooperation and security should become the guiding principles in the development of Central and Eastern Europe. He was speaking at the Global Forum, organized by the Atlantic Council, in Warsaw on Friday.

President Radev is paying a working visit to Poland, June 5-7 to attend the Three Seas Initiative Summit and the Global Forum, co-hosted by the Atlantic Council and the Polish Institute of International Affairs.

The Forum brought together political and business leaders and experts to discuss the future of the Trans-Atlantic relations in the conditions of growing regional and global challenges.

The Bulgarian head of State called the cohesion policy aimed at reducing disparities between EU Member States and regions "the most important factor for boosting the convincing presence of the EU on the international stage." "The EU can work efficiently only if it achieves balanced levels of development and assists the new EU member states in reaching the living standards of older EU countries," said Radev.

Taking a question within the framework of the Forum about the challenges in relations with Russia, Radev urged for the avoidance of a persistent conflict. "In the case of the Ukraine crisis, the EU is facing a typical frozen conflict, which should be resolved as soon as possible. The more we put off its resolution, the greater the risk is to security, free trade and energy security for our community," said Radev.

According to the Bulgarian head of State, the EU should keep all communication channels with Russia open in order to avoid the risk of conflict escalation in long term.

Radev commented on what was accomplished at the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Warsaw. He expressed a wish that the large number of projects in energy, infrastructure and digitalization that were discussed during the meetings should be implemented as soon as possible with the active participation of the private sector and the support of EU financial instruments.