site.btaIn New Year Address, President Urges Bulgarians to Pool Their Efforts to Achieve Prosperity

ESD 00:15:01 01-01-2020
VE1650ES.102 00:15
102 POLITICS - PRESIDENT - ADDRESS - NEW YEAR

In New Year Address,
President Urges Bulgarians to Pool
Their Efforts to Achieve Prosperity


Sofia, January 1 (BTA) - In his New Year address to the nation, broadcast in the last minutes of 2019, President Rumen Radev said that Bulgaria will prosper when all Bulgarians pool their efforts for the sake of their dignity and well-being. The nation will prosper "when education, science and culture are held in high esteem while talent, industriousness and integrity serve as principal social values, when we become aware of our power and responsibility, have the courage to stand up for truth and make our institutions work transparently and efficiently in the best interests of society," the President said.

He noted: "The outgoing year 2019 has reminded us that democracy and prosperity require an unceasing effort from us. It has reminded us that when we acquiesce and settle for second-best, elections are compromised, decisions for our future get made in the dark, our money is spent irresponsibly and successes are reported all the time while destitution spreads and the quality of life plummets."

According to him, access to clean water and clean air has become problematic, and the lack of due punishment and justice "has shaken our faith in tomorrow."

Radev went on to state that a nation which used to play a leading role in Europe's cultural development and to be a model for enlightened statehood, should aspire nowadays for more than just modest goals and low positions in European rankings.

He urged society to look after its elderly and lonely members, the thousands of people struggling with poverty, and above all, the children.

"As the new year 2020 sets in, let us have faith in goodness, ourselves and the future, and let us advance unfalteringly towards a Bulgaria where our children will want to remain and will feel proud," Radev said, wishing that the New Year bring good health and well-being to every Bulgarian home. NV/LN/VE