site.btaPresident Radev: Bulgaria Must Restore Its Leadership Role in Balkans

Bulgaria must restore its leadership role in the Balkans as soon as possible, President Rumen Radev said on Thursday after laying a wreath on a memorial plaque in Sarajevo that symbolizes the friendship between Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He added that this country should not be merely "reacting and following common policies", but actively shaping them.

"It is high time we stopped burying our heads in the sand, moved past our internal family and provincial quarrels, and returned to where we belong," Radev said. "In Bosnia and Herzegovina, they view Bulgaria as a strong and worthy member of NATO and the European Union, as a democratic country with a developed economy and social structure. They look to us with hope – to support, help, and lead," the President said.

Radev recalled that Bulgaria was the first country to recognize Bosnia and Herzegovina’s independence in 1992.

"My question to Bulgarian politicians is, Where is that Bulgaria now? The one that responded first to all major issues in the region, took the lead in decision-making, was the first in offering support, and was the one that initiated the security process in Southeast Europe," he further said.

The Bulgarian head of State is on a two-day official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the invitation of the chairman of the country’s Presidency, Denis Becirovic. On Thursday, Radev met with the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, and members of the two chambers of the country’s Parliament, the House of Peoples and the House of Representatives.

The President is scheduled to confer with Council of Ministers Chair Borjana Kristo and to visit the military base of the EUFOR operation Althea and meet with the Bulgarian representatives there.