site.btaVice President Iotova: Security Is Main Challenge Facing Countries

"The main challenge facing our countries and societies is security," said Vice President Iliana Iotova on Wednesday, addressing an international conference on crisis management and the possibilities of forecasting processes in an environment of sustained uncertainty. The conference is organized by the Specialized Administration and Management Institute of La Francophonie (ESFAM) at Sofia University.

Iotova said that security has raised many issues - from security for health, through conflicts and their consequences to a realistic forecast for the future. Iotova noted the war in Ukraine as a key issue for Europe and the world.

In her words, a good outcome of the discussions would be based not only on the arguments about the causes of the war, the findings about the behaviour of one side or another, but also on the need for good crisis management. Yotova pointed to the work of global organizations as a leading focus. It is categorically clear that the war in Ukraine is leading to an erosion of the post-war world order. At stake are international relations that have been settled for decades, the authority of international law and the legitimacy of institutions. For two years now, one question has become more and more pressing - is it possible for the United Nations to continue to play its role as guarantor of respect for international norms. Isn't it time to consider a serious reform of its statute and the way it functions, so that a diktat and the right of veto do not block the taking and implementation of decisions, Iotova said.

More than one and two conflicts in the past have been resolved with "ad hoc" formats, Iotova pointed out and asked whether there is life in this formula. For example, the long-awaited meeting in Switzerland was definitely a good step, but it is not enough and it was not well-prepared. When we talk about the talent and professionalism of well-made decisions, a key factor is that they are accepted by all. Even the subsequent "withdrawals" of signatures, which is something that could have been prevented beforehand, not only raises doubts in the final results, but is also a concrete example of bad decisions in an unstable and uncertain environment, without taking into account the possible effects, Iotova said.