site.btaCouncil of the Presidents Holds Third Annual Meeting

Council of the Presidents Holds Third  Annual Meeting


Sofia, January 28 (BTA) - The Council of the Presidents held its
third annual meeting on Wednesday. President Rosen Plevneliev
met with former Presidents Zhelyu Zhelev, Peter Stoyanov and
Georgi Purvanov, the President's Press Secretariat said. The
initiative was launched by Plevneliev on January 22, 2013.

The presidents expressed a hope that 2015 would be the year when
society would see that politicians are taking a nationally
responsible approach. Democratic maturity requires understanding
of, and respect for, differences; defending positions with
arguments, not with insults; and hearing sensible ideas which
work.

The unprincipled political confrontation and narrow partisan
battles of the last few years eroded the reputation of, and
confidence in, the institutions. The new tone of communication
among Bulgarian politicians witnessed in recent months is
extremely important for achieving domestic political stability,
which Bulgaria badly needs now, the four presidents said. They
see prerequisites for carrying out important reforms this year -
in health care, energy, the pension system, the judiciary, the
security sector and education.

The presidents concur that the national priorities should be
left out of the daily political confrontation, and that work on
them should be consistent, regardless of who is in office. They
stressed that as always, the presidential institution has been
working for the stability of the democratic process and the
institutions. The presidents hold that various forms should be
sought for cooperation among the branches of power and for the
strengthening of statehood.