site.bta Bulgarian President Plevneliev Confers with PACE President Agramunt, Secretary General Jagland

Bulgarian President Plevneliev Confers with PACE President Agramunt, Secretary General Jagland

Strasbourg, January 26 (BTA Special Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - "Bulgaria today is a pro-European power in Southeastern Europe, a stable country with balanced policy based on our values," Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said here on Monday morning, emerging from a session with the newly elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt.

"We are setting an example of tolerance rather than of hatred in the region. We are proud that our country now is a friend to all countries in the region. Bulgaria is a democracy which is making progress and is reforming. We do face outstanding issues, but the only way to solve them is to identify the real problems, to discuss them realistically, to candidly seek dialogue on the basis of values. We can't afford to diverge from or delay tackling the outstanding issues. Lasting solutions are based on dialogue, values, rule of law and the same rules for all," the head of State pointed out.

"Bulgaria is proud to chair such a large organization," the President said, referring to the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (November 10, 2015 - May 18, 2016). "We have a very ambitious programme," he added.

"We concurred on almost all issues," Agramunt said. "We take a very clear view of European values, this is particularly important in the current situation in Europe. I am convinced that Bulgaria will be a wonderful Chairman of the Committee of Ministers," he added.

"Times of instability and crisis teach us a lesson that the rules must be followed," Plevneliev said after conferring with Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland later in the day. In the President's words, the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers will be challenged by several crises.

"We have learnt our lessons of history, including from the past of Bulgaria which was unstable in 2013-2014. Our country had three parliaments and five governments during that period. In our case, the Constitution helped us to emerge from the crisis stronger and to continue our progress," the head of State said.

"We should keep in mind that the paramount national interest is peace and the rule of law. For seventy years now, this has been among the tasks of the Council of Europe. Bulgaria will address the problems of migration, terrorism, care of children. We believe that democracy makes us more humane and stronger," Plevneliev pointed out.

Thorbjorn noted that the two had considered opportunities for joint action in the reform of Bulgaria's judicial system. The Council of Europe attaches great importance to an improvement of the effectiveness and independence of justice in each country. This is crucial for the rule of law and the fight against corruption, for strengthening the democratic principles on the continent, the Secretary General said. The importance of the separation of powers, the protection of human rights in law enforcement and for the preservation of peace can be clearly seen in the present situation in Europe. Without this we would have had numerous conflicts, Thorbjorn commented.

Addressing the participants in the winter session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Tuesday, Plevneliev said that since 1949 PACE has become a generator of ideas, a platform for meaningful debate and a guardian for human rights, democratic values and the rule of law. "For more than 65 years you have been a driving force for positive change, guiding Europe and 800 million Europeans on their path to peace, unity and cooperation," he added.

In his words, Bulgaria joined the Council of Europe in 1992, which opened new horizons for the country and facilitated the transition from a totalitarian communist regime to a vibrant democracy. He described this as a historic achievement for the Bulgarian nation but also a historic commitment to the European values, on which the Bulgarian foreign and domestic policy has been based since then.

The Chairmanship of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers is a very demanding responsibility, given the seriousness of the challenges being faced today, Plevneliev went on to say. He listed some of the challenges that need to be addressed: the rule of law, early detection of crises and a proactive approach, migration, terrorism, global interests vs global principles, the West and Russia being opponents once again, the rising number of frozen conflicts, nationalism vs patriotism, and national interests vs solidarity.

Talking about the rule of law, Plevneliev said that efficient mechanisms are needed in order to guarantee it. In his words, peace can only be achieved when the rules apply to everyone. "Today it is even possible for a permanent member of the UN Security Council not to follow the rules and principles of the international order," he noted.

"We should not wait for weapons and crises to appear on our TV screens, in order to act. Peace is not just the absence of war. Peace is human rights. Peace is rule of law. We need an early detection system at a European or even global level to warn us when those universal values are violated. And we need not just to be concerned, not just to register the crises, but to be proactive and solve them," Plevneliev argued.

Talking about migration, the Bulgarian President said that the ongoing hostilities in several conflict zones have forced millions to leave their homes and come at Europe's doorstep. "Many of them are running away from the devastation of war, asking for nothing else but the right to live. Others are simply looking for better economic opportunities. Closing our doors to those fleeing for their lives, denouncing international human rights protections and forgetting Europe's core values is not an option," he argued. He stated that Bulgaria supports the establishment of a solidarity scheme which will allow the fair relocation and resettlement of refugees among all Member States. "We need to establish a relevant mechanism in order to distinguish those in need from those just looking for better life. This does not go against stricter border control and security checks," he argued.

Addressing the challenge of terrorism and violent extremism, Plevneliev said that no country can manage on its own. "Terrorism is a global threat, the solution must be global, too. United we can win the fight against hate, extremism, and destruction," he said. In his words, not just the consequences but also the causes of terrorism must be addressed. According to him, better ideas, education and tolerance are needed so as to defeat the ideology of terrorism. "No one is born a terrorist. Terrorists are created. Social exclusion, inequality and lack of access to basic human rights fuel hatred and division," he specified.

Noting that the West and Russia have become opponents again, Plevneliev expressed the hope of seeing on the world stage global interests that do not oppose but reflect the guiding principles and values of the international order. "The annexation of Crimea was a blatant violation of international law and its principles. Bulgaria stands firmly behind Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. For us, Crimea is Ukraine and Ukraine is Europe," he stated.

"Today, more than ever, we need more, not less Europe," the Bulgarian head of State argued. "What the international community has achieved in recent decades cannot be taken for granted; the principles we built our world upon are not set in stone and it is up to all of us to respect, promote and protect them," he went on to say.

In Plevneliev's words, the Balkan region is developing and is on the right track. Given the positive impact of European integration on the region's development, Bulgaria strongly supports the EU and NATO enlargement process, he stated.

Concluding his address, Plevneliev said that cooperation is no longer a matter of choice, but of necessity. He noted that unity and rules are needed if future crises are to be solved, and called for an extra dose of trust in and support for the joint European project.