site.btaConference on Civil Society in Western Balkans Held in Sofia

Sofia, May 16 (BTA) - It is completely natural for Bulgaria to choose the Western Balkans' European perspective as a priority, not only of its EU Council Presidency, but also as a long-term commitment of Bulgarian foreign policy, said here Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva. She was speaking at a conference titled "Democracy That Delivers: Ten Years Later. Unlocking the Potential of the Western Balkans", the Foreign Ministry reported on Wednesday.

Zaharieva said it was not easy convincing Bulgaria's EU partners that this priority is a win-win situation for both sides. On the one hand, the Western Balkans are a 20 million people market with young demographics, while on the other, states in the region are still not resistant to influence from third countries.

This resistance is based on three pillars: a working market economy, rule of law and an independent judicial system, Zaharieva said.

Working with young people is a highlight of the EU's efforts and aims to give them an opportunity to attain good education and find work in their own countries. In addition to that, young people in those countries must be shown that nationalism and isolation do not lead to anything positive for their countries, Zaharieva said, adding that building goodneighbourly relations is not a cliche, but proof that two countries can work together.

According to Zaharieva, Bulgaria finds it especially important that during the NATO Summit this July, leaders start the accession process for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia to the Alliance.

The international conference, organized in partnership by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), the European Fund for the Balkans, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the European Commission with the support of SELDI.net and the Bulgarian Swiss Cooperation Program, brought together key transatlantic players for the Western Balkans and representatives of the civil society and the private sector on the eve of the informal meeting of the heads of state in Sofia on May 17-18, the CDS reported in a press release.