site.btaPresident Plevneliev Participates in 70th Regular Session of UN General Assembly, Opens Visit with Meeting with Bulgarians

President Plevneliev Participates in 70th Regular Session of UN General Assembly, Opens Visit with Meeting with Bulgarians

New York, September 27 (BTA) - Bulgarian President Rosen
Plevneliev opened his working visit to New York with a meeting
with Bulgarians, his Press Secretariat said on Sunday.
  
Plevneliev's visit to the US for the 70th Session of the UN
General Assembly is taking place from September 26 to 30.

More than 250,000 Bulgarians live in the United States. This
large community forms a bridge between the two countries and has
 a strong potential to deepen bilateral relations, said
Plevneliev.

"Many Bulgarians are established professionals and managers in
information and communication technology and various industries
generating a high value added in the US. We rely on your
expertise and support for the rapid development of these sectors
 in Bulgaria," said Plevneliev.

He called on Bulgarians abroad to be active in the national
referendum on remote electronic voting on October 25, saying
that this would show their involvement in developments in
Bulgaria.

Commenting on the migrant influx, Plevneliev said that a future
war can be prevented only through integration. "The EU is a
family and is expected to act in unison in times like these,
rather than everyone fending for themselves. The EU will cope
and Bulgaria will be part of the solution," he said. He noted
that Bulgaria is on the side of the strong call for unification,
 and recalled that his country is, among other things, a symbol
of tolerance and that different religions have co-existed in
history.

Bulgaria and the United States are strategic partners, said
Plevneliev. He recalled that during State Secretary John Kerry's
 visit to Sofia it was decided to set up five working groups on
strategic dialogue in security and defence, energy, the rule of
law, education, and people-to-people contacts. The waiver of US
visas for Bulgarians remains a priority in bilateral relations,
the President said.

He praised the Bulgarians in New York for the success of Sunday
schools in creating "real nuclei of Bulgarians who cherish their
 fatherland". Those schools make sure that the Bulgarian
language is preserved in the youngest generation, but they also
provide a permanent link to Bulgaria, Plevneliev said.  

On Sunday, September 27, he takes part in the United Nations
Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 Development Agenda. At
the UN Headquarters Plevneliev will confer with UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and will participate in the Global
 Leaders Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment.

Later in the day, Plevneliev will talk with representatives of
Jewish organizations and participate in an award ceremony of the
 Clinton Global Citizen Awards, which will take place within the
 Clinton Global Initiative 2015.

On September 29, the Bulgarian President will participate in the
 Leaders' Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism,
organized at the initiative of the US President. Plevneliev will
 also talk with 70th Session President Mogens Lykketoft and
participate in the Adriatic-Baltic-Black Sea Leaders' Meeting.

On September 30, Plevneliev will address the UN General
Assembly. He will also meet with Macedonian Patriotic
Organization President  Jordan Lebamoff. Established by
Bulgarians in the US in 1922, the Macedonian Patriotic
Organization is aimed at preserving and spreading the historical
 memory, traditions, faith and Bulgarian language among the
emigrants from the Macedonia geographic region in the US and
Canada.

Within his participation in the 70th Session of the UN General
Assembly, Plevneliev will also hold a series of bilateral
meetings. Also on the programme of his visit are working
meetings with US investors and representatives of US companies
participating in the Business Council for International
Understanding. The President will present the opportunities for
investments in Bulgaria.