site.btaEastern European Summit Discusses Migratory Pressure

Eastern European Summit Discusses Migratory Pressure

Sofia, October 8 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev on
 Thursday opened a two-day summit in Sofia entitled "New Visions
 for Partnership and Neighbourhood in Europe." The event has
brought together current and former state and government leaders
 of Eastern Europe, who will discuss ways to cope with the
migratory pressure and will look at its economic, political and
humanitarian implications.

The summit has been organized by the Petar Stoyanov Centre for
Political Dialogue and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center
and is proceeding under President Plevneliev's patronage.

Plevneliev said in his opening statement that crises in Europe
can only be solved through a common European approach.
"Confronted by an unprecedented migratory flow, the EU should
show solidarity and responsibility. Yes, we will help Greece,
but we expect reforms and responsibility. Yes, we will solve the
 refugee problem, but it cannot be solved by an individual
nation - we expect a common approach and shared responsibility,"
 he said.

Stressing that the right to asylum is a universal value and an
essential human right, Plevneliev said: "Today, with every new
fence, with border blocks being put up, with water cannons and
tear gas being used against refugees, the EU stands against its
own rules, values and identity, it stands against itself."

He went on to say: "The Balkans are the place where Europe must
show it has learned its lesson from the Ukrainian crisis. Today,
 Russia is concerned with spheres of influence and world-power
politics in which the world powers determine the fate of other
sovereign nations. This kind of policy was typical of the 19th
century and is dangerous."

"Moscow has placed the Balkans in the centre of its geopolitical
 interests. We are worried that world-power politics disregards
the sovereignty and the will of individual nations, and this can
 lead to further instability," Plevneliev said.

He noted that the Ukrainian conflict has put Europe in a state
of "cold peace." "If we really want to solve the conflict, it
should not be frozen. It needs a lasting and sustainable
solution, which must be based on national sovereignty, human
values and the rule of law," he said.

Former Bulgarian president Petar Stoyanov said the matters which
 are being discussed at the summit present a serious challenge
to the whole world. He singled out the Ukrainian crisis, the
events in Syria and the refugee problem which, he said, is one
of the most serious problems facing the EU.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov highlighted the refugee issue
 and Europe's attitude to it. He called for solidarity with the
weak and the oppressed. "Instead of showing solidarity with the
children fleeing from the Middle East, Europe shows
selfishness," Ivanov said. He described the migration crisis as
"an electric shock to resuscitate Europe's indifferent heart."

Former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who co-chairs the
 Nizami Ganjavi International Center, called for genuine
solidarity with the refugees. She said Europe has embarked on a
search to rediscover its own foundations. VI/VE