site.btaPresident Plevneliev: "Connectivity Is Prerequisite to Achieve Development, Economic Growth"

President Plevneliev:
"Connectivity Is Prerequisite to
Achieve Development, Economic Growth"


Milan, October 17 (BTA) - "Connectivity is a prerequisite for
achieving development and economic growth at both national and
regional and global level," Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
told journalists here on Friday, quoted by his Press
Secretariat. He was referring to the common position reached by
the participants in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 10).

The heads of State and government identified as a common
priority the modernization and development of the transport
infrastructure linking Europe and Asia by building high-speed
railways and modernizing ports and airports, Plevneliev
specified.

"Bulgaria can play an enormous part in this process through the
completion of the motorway from Turkey to Serbia, by expanding
the capabilities of Bulgarian industrial zones and building a
high-speed railway to Istanbul," the President stressed. He sees
this as an opportunity for Bulgaria to position itself on the
trading route between Europe and Asia, which is the largest
trading partner of European countries.

Bilateral Meetings

Within the framework of the forum, the prime ministers of China,
Vietnam, Singapore and other countries expressed interest in
deepening cooperation with Bulgaria.

Opportunities for bilateral cooperation in food processing and
between high-tech clusters topped the agenda of Plevneliev's
meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Singapore is a leader in high tech development, and Bulgaria is
working ever more vigorously in this area and is emerging as an
IT hub for Southeastern Europe. Bulgaria is one of the first
countries which established diplomatic relations with
independent Singapore. There is a substantial potential for the
advancement of bilateral contacts through the exchange of
business delegations and holding joint business forums,
especially in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The President expressed Bulgaria's support for the ratification
of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Singapore.

Within the ASEM Meeting, Plevneliev also conferred with a number
of his European counterparts, who expressed support for the
formation of a stable Bulgarian government and shared their
countries' experiences. "Bulgaria has a strong political will
for the formation of a government, and the way to achieve this
is not by bargaining over appointments but by rallying behind a
clear action programme," the head of State pointed out. He
stressed that "the people does not expect any more messiahs and
rescuers but wants an affirmed democracy and working
institutions. Coalition culture is part of this. We can achieve
it only when we are aware that it rests on strong and clear
principles, when we realize what meaningful things we can do for
the country rather than who will get government appointments,"
the President insisted.

Ukraine Crisis

Replying to a question, Plevneliev pointed out that the crisis
in Ukraine and the escalation of tensions in the Middle East
were discussed at the forum. The President hopes that a lasting
settlement of the Ukrainian crisis will be achieved through
dialogue and implementation of the Minsk Protocol.

"What gave me a cause for grave concern in today's speeches of
the European political leaders and of the Russian Federation was
the different views on the point of departure for our actions
from now on, because there is talk of rule of law and a
law-based State. Assessments of which decision is based on the
rule of law and which is not are poles apart," the head of State
said. He pointed out that, regrettably, both parties to the
conflict hold deeply entrenched positions, and they continue to
drift apart.

"The vast majority of UN Member States argued clearly and
categorically that the referendum held in Crimea was
illegitimate," Plevneliev added, voicing fears that the Ukraine
crisis may turn into yet another frozen conflict in Europe.
PK/LG