site.btaForeign Minister Mitov on Next Bulgarian EU Commissioner, Bulgarian Candidates' Unsuccessful Bid in UN Secretary General Race, Relations with Turkey

Foreign Minister Mitov on Next Bulgarian EU Commissioner, Bulgarian Candidates' Unsuccessful Bid in UN Secretary General Race, Relations with Turkey

Sofia, November 3 (BTA) - The next Bulgarian EU Commissioner candidate following Kristalina Georgieva's resignation, the Bulgarian candidates' unsuccessful bid in the UN secretary-general race and the relations with Turkey were among the topics discussed by Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov in a BTA interview.

Following is an abridged version of the interview:

Q: How would you comment Kristalina Georgieva's decision to resign as European Commission (EC) Vice-President? Was it expected and did you know about it?

A: It came as no surprise to me that Ms. Georgieva's experience and expertise were appreciated. Her appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank affirmed and broadened Kristalina's reputation as an international financial expert of the highest rank. With this appointment, a Bulgarian national will take another senior international post in a global financial institution. This new post of Chief Executive Officer has significantly broader international dimensions than a vice-president of the EC, with numerous tasks aimed at the EU itself.

Q: Will the resignation impact the Bulgarian positions in the EC, will we lose the post of vice president and an important portfolio, such as the budget?

A: President Juncker stands ready to discuss with the Bulgarian authorities the candidates for a new member of the College of Commissioners from Bulgaria, as well as their portfolio. I am sure that the next Bulgarian commissioner will satisfy the professionalism criteria, set by the Bulgarian Government, as well as live up to the EU Commission's expectations regarding the fulfillment of his or her current activities. We will have a strong personality with a relevant portfolio to match.

Q: Is there any clarity about who will be the new Bulgarian EU commissioner to replace her, and if no, what names are currently on the table?

A: The Bulgarian Government will acquaint the public with its choice, which will be justified in a professional and expert manner. In this case, however, the publicity of this choice must not surpass the logic behind the selection and the procedure itself. You know that the next commissioner has to be appointed by the Council, with the approval of the EC President, and following consultations with the European Parliament.

Q: From today's standpoint, how do you see the replacement of the Bulgarian candidate for the UN secretary-general post, was that a right move?

A: By nominating Ms. Georgieva, the Bulgarian Government made an attempt to improve the chances of consolidating the Eastern European Group (EEG) and uniting the group around a common candidate. We were encouraged by the readiness, stated by a number of the regional group's members, to support the new Bulgarian candidate. Ms. Georgieva received official support from Latvia, Hungary and Poland. The former EEG candidates from Montenegro and Croatia also declared their support for the Bulgarian candidate.

The Bulgarian Government would not have had to make the decision of nominating a new candidate if Ms. Bokova had managed to achieve the campaign initial goals - establishing herself as Eastern Europe's candidate and overcoming the veto against her.

But, unfortunately, the EEG's delayed consolidation and the UN Security Council members' desire to speed up the election process led to the election of a secretary-general not nominated by our regional group.

Q: How would you comment Turkish President Erdogan's statements regarding "the boundaries of his heart" [referring to a speech delivered by Erdogan in end-October, in which he says that Turkey's "physical boundaries are different from the boundaries of our heart. From Europe to the depths of Africa, from Mediterranean to the limitless steppes of Central Asia; our brothers living in these geographies are all within the boundaries of our heart. To us, the Balkans are one half of our heart and the Caucasus the other half", which in turn sparked ambivalent interpretations]? Are tensions created in our relations with Turkey and will there be an official position on our part, as some political forces demanded?

A: In his speeches, Mr. Erdogan makes a clear distinction between state borders in the region, which he says he respects, and the so called boundaries of his heart. For the useful bilateral dialogue and cooperation, which we have with the Republic of Turkey, of course it is useful for the heart's parameters to correspond to those of the state borders. Because otherwise, such statements could affect the historical sensitivity of the peoples in the Balkans.

The Foreign Ministry is paying the necessary attention to the series of statements made by President Erdogan. I believe, however, that they should be interpreted in the context of the specific political moment in Turkey itself. In any case, I do not believe that we shall react led by emotions, even more on the eve of the presidential elections, when all political factors and the whole public should have a wise and responsible approach.