site.btaBSP-United Left MP: Bulgaria Needs Balanced Foreign Policy, Not Swinging to Extremes

Gabriel Valkov MP of BSP-United Left said Bulgaria needs a balanced foreign policy, economic growth and social security for its citizens. He spoke during Wednesday's debate on the motion of no confidence made by Vazrazhdane over what it said was "the persistent failure of the foreign policy" of the Rosen Zhelyazkov Cabinet.

Valkov said those three priorities can be achieved by maintaining a balance between East and West, engaging in dialogue with all parties, and trading with the whole world on the best possible terms for Bulgaria and its citizens. "We are here to ensure this and we are participating in the government precisely for this reason," the MP said as quoted by the press centre of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

He recalled that the BSP was the party under whose government Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 and signed an agreement for the construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant in 2006 to provide affordable electricity for Bulgarian citizens. "This is just a small example of the art of balanced foreign policy," said Valkov.

Bulgaria's place is in the EU, while at the same time it should engage in dialogue and trade with Russia, the US, China and the rest of the world. "We have always stood up for peace, for sitting at the negotiating table, and for seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine, and we stick to this position," the MP said.

"After four years of political crisis and inaction, the time has come for bold decisions, stability, security and justice that all Bulgarian citizens demand, as opposed to vociferous statements, populism and aggression without real solutions. It is time to restore normalcy in Bulgaria, which we all need," Valkov said.