site.btaPM Borissov Attends SEECP Summit in Sarajevo

July 9 (BTA special correspondent Antoan Nikolov) -
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov participated in the South-East
European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit, held in Sarajevo,
the Government information service said Monday.

Borissov and the other heads of state and government are taking
part in the plenary sessions which focus on the promotion of
connectivity in infrastructure, business, digitization and
relations between young people, as well as projects that are
important for the region, economic growth and improving the life
 of the citizens of these countries.

Addressing the summit, Borissov said that, regretfully, the
countries in the Western Balkans hardly get together; also, they
 tend to focus on what divides them, while doing "Balkan tricks"
 on each other, which in his words, won't be tolerated by the
European Union. Borissov further dwelled on the efforts made
during the Bulgarian EU Presidency for the European perspective
of the Western Balkans, and for putting the topic in the centre
of the EU's agenda.

The European Union does not only boil down to EU funds worth
billions of euro, infrastructure projects, competitiveness, etc.
 The EU means responsibility and predictability, Borissov told
Bulgarian journalists at the sidelines of the meeting, quoted by
 the information service of the Bulgarian government. He
outlined infrastructure and connectivity in the Balkans as the
direct benefits for Bulgaria stemming from SEECP.

"My fellow colleagues expressed discontent over the fact that
there are no accession procedures. There are three SEECP
countries that are EU Member States and are represented on the
level of state secretaries, while Kosovo, which is the next one
to chair the SEECP, is not represented. How can we even talk
about EU accession with such behaviour?" Borissov asked. He was
adamant that everyone wants things to happen, ranging from
motorways to digital infrastructure, but with this mentality "we
 will be running around in circles".

"We need brave politicians - you can't be doing one thing at
home and something else outside. Bulgaria too has disputes with
the Republic of North Macedonia, but (Prime Minister Zoran) Zaev
 and I did a lot to overcome them. Our commissions are working,
our historians may have disagreements, but the politicians have
to solve them. The Balkan mentality is not OK in the EU - they
want results there," the Bulgarian Prime Minister said during
the forum.

Borissov noted that North Macedonia has distinguished itself and
 progressed thanks to the Goodneighbourliness Treaty (with
Bulgaria). It has the opportunity and perspective to succeed,
but should avoid being misled by the media that spews out
anti-Bulgarian propaganda there. "Their President gave a truly
good example of how one should talk," Borissov further
commented. 

On the second day of the summit Borissov conferred with North
Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski. "It is positive that
the truth about our common history, including about Gotse
Delchev, has started to be publicly stated by politicians from
 the highest level," the Bulgarian Prime Minister said, voicing
satisfaction that the right conditions for signing the Prespa
Agreement were created thanks to the Treaty of Friendship,
Goodneighbourliness and Cooperation between Bulgaria and North
Macedonia.

President Pendarovski thanked for the active support Bulgaria
provides his country on its path to a future in the EU. "You are
 our biggest supporter," North Macedonia's head of State told
Borissov. Pendarovski noted that the diplomatic relations
between the two countries are excellent.

Later on Tuesday, Borissov and the Chairman of the Presidency of
 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, discussed the process of
 Bosnia and Herzegovina's Euroatlantic integration and the
acceleration of economic cooperation between the two countries.

"Bulgaria is an initiator and remains an active participant in
the South-East
European Cooperation Process, and we continue to view the
initiative as a leading political framework for partnership in
the region and as a fundamental platform for the Western Balkan
countries' European integration," Borissov said.

The current main goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina should continue
to be its functioning as a stable state, so as to prevent its
European path from being blocked, the Bulgarian government
leader noted. The place of all countries from the region is in
the EU, because this is the only way to ensure sustainable
stability that will help overcome the trauma from the recent
past, he went on to comment.

The two leaders were unanimous that there is a need to enhance
the connectivity in infrastructure, business, digitization and
relations between young people in the region.

Borissov and Dodik reviewed bilateral relations and were adamant
 that there is potential to broaden trade and economic ties
between Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On Monday evening, Borissov attended an official dinner hosted
by the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Milorad Dodik, and Presidency members Sefik Dzaferovic and
Zeljko Komsic. LI/MY
 
 

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