site.btaALDE President Urges PM Borissov to Remove Ataka from Government over Crimea Remark

Sofia, April 27 (BTA) - The President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Hans van Baalen, Friday urged Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov to remove the nationalist Ataka party from the government over a remark by its leader Volen Siderov that Crimea was not annexed by Russia. Speaking at a news briefing in Sofia where ALDE is holding a meeting of its leadership, Van Baalen said Borissov "should take the responsibility if a coalition partner of his supports the unlawful annexing of Crimea".

Ataka is part of the power-sharing United Patriots (UP) coalition. Its leader Siderov, who is also UP floor leader, recently went to Crimea for an international economic forum and said there that it was important to hold such forums in Crimea "for that is how it becomes clear that Crimea is not annexed or occupied". He also said that Ataka had observers at the 2014 Crimea referendum and they saw for themselves that people there truly wanted to join Russia.

The ALDE President said that everybody wants to have good relations with Russia but international law is there to be observed. He also said that Ataka does not play a positive role in Bulgaria.

He said Borissov should remove Ataka from the government - along with the rest of the United Patriots partners - as soon as Bulgaria hands over the rotating EU Presidency at the end of the first half of 2018.

Van Baalen argued that it would be good for Bulgaria to have a truly European government, "without elements who don't want Europe", as the country is trying to join the eurozone.

He added that Bulgaria now needs a roadmap for entry in the eurozone which can happen in the next one or two years and that this country has the support of the Liberal family for this.

The ALDE President argued that Bulgaria and Romania should also be admitted to Schengen because they meet the standards, and that this should happen before the European elections in May 2019.

He expects the Liberals to be the second largest group in the EP after the elections next year.

Van Baalen also said that the Western Balkans most certainly belong to Europe and should have a chance to negotiate their entry in the EU.

According to the ALDE President, the ALDE-affiliated Movement for Rights and Freedoms deserve credit for supporting the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council.

MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi said that the United Patriots are undermining the image of the country and put to question its Euro-Atlantic future. He said that when it comes to important geopolitical questions, one cannot have a personal position when he is part of the government.

It was apparently a reference to Siderov's explanation that he was in Crimea on a private invitation and a subsequent statement by GERB deputy leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov that Siderov was not speaking for the government during the Crimea visit but was expressing his personal position.

Liberal International President Juli Minoves said that Bulgaria's Euro-Atlantic orientation is not something to be played with.