site.btaPresident Plevneliev Gives Traditional Reception for Foreign Ambassadors

President Plevneliev Gives Traditional Reception for Foreign Ambassadors

Sofia, January 23 (BTA) - Bulgaria should be more ambitious, President Rosen Plevneliev said at the traditional reception he gave on Friday evening for the heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Bulgaria. Plevneliev stressed Bulgaria's ambition to embark on a new wave of European integration projects such as entry in the ERM II mechanism and subsequently, in the Eurozone, full membership in the Schengen Area, speedy creation of the European Energy Union.

Plevneliev said that despite the challenges, in 2015 Bulgaria was a factor of stability in the region and in the EU. He said that Bulgaria was a source of solutions and not of problems. "We played our responsible role as a pro-European power on the Balkans and a responsible member of the EU and NATO," Plevneliev said.

The head of State noted the stabilization attained in 2015 on the internal political scene and the focus on the modernization and reforming of important sectors.

The judicial reform was at the focus of the social and political life in Bulgaria in 2015, Plevneliev said, adding that he will welcome any effort for deepening the reform and speeding the work under it.

Palestinian Ambassador and doyen of the diplomatic corps here Ahmed al-Madbooh said that 2015 witnessed a number of conflicts in different parts of the world, escalation of terrorism, killings of innocent people, which have forced millions of people to seek refuge away from their homeland and to head for Europe via the Middle East. The diplomat said that the international community has become more united and dedicated to solving these conflicts peacefully. In his address the Palestinian Ambassador also said that the diplomats should reconfirm their commitment to work together for achieving a world without wars, division lines and occupations. He urged for work on what unites people, not on what divides them.