site.bta President Plevneliev Pays Official Visit to Slovenia

President Plevneliev Pays Official Visit to Slovenia

Ljubljana/Sofia, July 25 (BTA) - During his official visit to Slovenia, President Plevneliev conferred with his Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor, Prime Minister Miroslav Cerar and the Vice-President of the Slovenian National Assembly, Matjaz Nemec, Plevneliev's press office said. Plevneliev went to Ljubljana at the invitation of President Pahor.

Bulgaria and Slovenia are factors of peace and prosperity in Southeastern Europe that cannot be disregarded when it comes to the future of the region and the direction of development, Bulgaria President Rosen Plevneliev said at a joint news conference with his Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor, Plevneliev's press office said. The Bulgarian President is on an official visit to Slovenia at the invitation of President Pahor.

Plevneliev urged to meet modern challenges in Europe with diplomacy and cooperation and stressed the primary importance of the European integration of the Western Balkans. The two heads of state were unanimous that Bulgaria and
Slovenia together should play a crucial role for continuing the process of EU enlargement to include the countries of the region.

They also discussed the situation in the Republic of Turkey. Plevneliev voiced concern over the events in this country and reiterated his appeal for supremacy of the legal order and observing of civil rights and freedoms without an exception. The President was adamant: "Now the time has come to respond to all difficulties with more democracy." The EU should help Turkey so that the normal functioning and the supremacy of the law are preserved and good education be guaranteed, Plevneliev also said.

In the context of the migration crisis, Plevneliev said that Bulgaria has established very good relations with the Turkish institutions. "We have a fair agreement for readmission with Turkey," Plevneliev said and voiced hope that it will be effectively implemented.

Plevneliev urged Europe to act more firmly for resolving the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa in order to overcome the crisis, triggered by the unprecedented migration pressure along the EU external borders.

The two presidents shared the view that joint efforts are needed to fight terrorism and underscored that the European communities should not succumb to fear. According to Plevneliev, the European intelligence services should strengthen their cooperation and the exchange of information.

"We should complement the good political dialogue with enhanced economic cooperation," President Pahor said. He voiced conviction that the strong positions of Bulgaria and Slovenia within the EU and NATO may contribute that the two countries' voice be heard on regional development and security issues.

Earlier in the day Slovenian President Pahor decorated President Plevneliev with Slovenia's highest state honour, the Order for Exceptional Merits, for his contribution to the peaceful, democratic and European development of the countries in the region, for promoting Bulgaria's cooperation with Slovenia at the bilateral and multilateral level and strengthening relations within the European Union.

The migration crisis in the EU and the consequences for the region topped the agenda of Plevneliev and Slovenian Prime Minister Miroslav Cerar. Plevneliev and Cerar were unanimous that the only solution to the crisis goes through strict adherence to the rules, valid for all EU member states.

The two interlocutors appealed for acceleration of the process of establishment of common European defence at the external borders, which would prevent future crises and restore the feeling of security of the European citizens. They were adamant that the European Union should show firmness and adhere to its fundamental values and that it should be united and efficient.

Plevneliev and Cerar also discussed regional cooperation and the integration of the Balkan countries into the EU as a key to the resolution of a number of challenges, related to the region's security and economic prosperity.

In Ljubljana, President Plevneliev also met with Matjaz Nemec, Vice-President of the Slovenian National Assembly.