site.btaBulgarian PM Borissov: Western Balkans Should Stay on EU Agenda for the Sake of Peace and Stability

Zagreb, May 26 (BTA special correspondent Antoan Nikolov) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov visited Croatia on Saturday at the invitation of his counterpart Andrej Plenkovic to discuss the progress made on projects launched during the Bulgarian EU Presidency to reduce the disparities between the Western Balkans countries and the EU Member States and those among the countries of the Western Balkans.

Borissov told a news conference at the Presidential Palace: "If we do not guarantee that the Western Balkans will stay on the EU agenda, the Sofia [EU-Western Balkans] Summit will go down as just another good meeting. We should spare no effort to prevent a repeat of a conflict like the one in former Yugoslavia. These are our Balkans, our Europe and we must put up a formidable effort."

The Bulgarian Prime Minister also said he discussed this matter with Pope Francis on Friday and he agreed to visit Bulgaria, Romania and, if possible, another country of the region, in order to send a message of peace and understanding.

Borissov stressed that Bulgaria and Croatia are among the region's stable countries and could do much together. He wished Croatia, which assumes the EU Presidency in January-June 2020, to support all efforts Bulgaria has made to strengthen peace in the region during its EU Presidency. "We have started solving the problems at the Sofia Summit and we rely on Croatia to continue the process," he said.

Borissov also emphasized that dialogue can lead to understanding even between countries with long-standing problems between them. He cited as an example the new phase in Bulgarian-Macedonian relations, and talked about their joint celebration earlier this week of the lifework of the brothers Cyril and Methodius, who invented the Slav alphabet.

Plenkovic commended Borissov for the well-organized EU-Western Balkans Summit on May 17 which raised the issue of the Western Balkans after a 15-year hiatus. He said this was a message to all the neighbours of Croatia and Bulgaria - to keep up the reforms and build transport, digital and infrastructure connectivity at the same time. He said the two countries would join their efforts and help each other along the way.

At the May 17 EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia, Croatia stated it would initiate talks in the same format in 2020.

Plenkovic also said Croatia and Bulgaria have excellent political and economic relations and economic cooperation is being improved through a sustained effort. An important agreement on cooperation in hydropower generation was signed a few days ago, which is yet another proof of good partnership.

The two Prime Ministers also concurred that Bulgaria and Croatia have common priorities regarding the Eurozone and Schengen.

Later in the day the Bulgarian delegation, led by Borissov and Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, and a Croatian delegation unveiled a monument to Bulgarian writer, poet and playwright Ivan Vazov in the Poets Alley in Bundek Park.

The monument was raised as a symbol of the long-standing friendship between Vazov and Croatian writer Fran Gundrum-Oriovcanin, who was also a physician, translator, ethnologist, archaeologist and public figure. He translated some of Vazov's works, including his landmark novel "Under the Yoke".

Fandakova thanked Zagreb City Hall for the monument, stressing that the two capitals have excellent relations. They signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Friendship in 2012.

On Saturday afternoon Borissov arrived in Kiev where he is scheduled to meet with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. They will discuss ways to deepen bilateral contacts and foreign policy matters of current relevance.