site.btaOutgoing President Plevneliev Makes Final Address to The Nation

Outgoing President Plevneliev  Makes Final Address to The Nation

Sofia, January 21 (BTA) - Bulgaria should keep on working for the unity and not for the division of the European Union, President Rosen Plevneliev said in a final address to the nation before the end of his term in office. The statement was broadcast by the Bulgarian National Television Saturday evening. The head of State said he will keep on working for a strong Bulgaria and a strong European Union.

The President said that today's clash in Europe is a clash of values. He reiterated his support for the supremacy of the law and stated that he has opposed those who believed in the supremacy of power and geopolitics. "I acted decisively in order to preserve the EU - this unique union of peace, freedom and prosperity," Plevneliev said, adding that he did not keep silent, did not hide behind covenient phrases, narrow national interests or seeking to strike strange balances. "I have chosen and withstood the European path because I believe that Bulgaria has to walk along this path," he noted.

Plevneliev said that his mandate has been very difficult but worthy and successful. He recalled that during his term, the country passed successfully through three political and parliamentary crises, two waves of citizens' protests and two caretaker governments. The principled position, the cooperation with the political parties and also with the civil society were of decisive importance to calm the nation and guarantee a successful transition to a new parliament and a new government.

The President said he has stuck firmly to the course of the country's democratic and European development. Bulgaria was an iceland of stability and an uncircumventable factor in the region, a good friend to everyone in the region, a trusted partner within the EU and a strong member of NATO. Plevneliev said he was a President but also a crisis manager and succeeded in leading Bulgaria through the difficulties in a worthy and successful manner. In the conditions of a heavy crisis of confidence in the institutions and the politicians, he managed to preserve the presidential institution as a guarantor of continuity, supra-party and nationally responsible approach.

The President said he has acted as a convinced European and has been the most active Bulgarian President on the international stage so far. He singled out the introduction of innovations, dual education and long-term planning, the establishment of an innovation ecosystem, being the first in Bulgaria and in the Balkans, the implemented modernization projects in the country and the setting of connectivity as a national and regional priority. Plevneliev also noted that he was a patron of three industries - the information and communication technologies, the outsourcing and the car manufacture, which created over 90,000 new jobs during his term.

"We replaced fully Bulgaria's energy priorities - moving from the "Grand Slam" of three Russian projects to energy efficiency, diversification and liberalization," said Plevneliev.

The outgoing President also noted that he has not appointed even a single ambassador or caretaker minister, who had served as an agent of the communist-era State Security. He was a patron and initiator of events for a fair and objective evaluation of communism. "I believe that I united and did not divide the society with these actions."

"The unlearned lessons of history cast a shadow on our future. The truth is the solid basis on which we should stand - the truth about the communism, the oligarchy and the justice in the state," the President noted.

"It was an honor for me to be of service to my people," Plevnliev said in conclusion.