site.btaPresident Radev: Lessons from History Are Often Forgotten, That in Times of Global Conflict There Can Be No Isolated Islands of Peace and Tranquility

The lessons of history are often forgotten that in times of global conflict there can be no isolated islands of peace and tranquility, President Rumen Radev wrote on Facebook on Friday. Bulgaria and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan are hosting in Sofia the Aqaba Process for the Balkans III Forum.

The great challenge the world faces today is to free itself from the self-delusion that peace and security can be guaranteed only for a country and a region or at the expense of someone else, the head of state said.

It is the Balkans that are particularly sensitive on the issue of security, because they directly suffer the consequences of the military conflicts around the region. Conflicts that fuel illegal human trafficking, migration, radicalization and terrorism, Radev further wrote.

Nowadays, when security is becoming a daily challenge, it is particularly important that the state leaders can exchange views and together seek ways to strengthen it, the President added.

At a time of sharp deterioration in the security environment, more voices of leaders and experts need to be heard and their opinions, experience and suggestions respected. Had this been done, the fatal for Ukraine counter-offensive launched in 2023 would not have happened and many leaders in Europe would be living under the naïve belief that by pouring more resources and weapons into Ukraine, it would achieve significant military successes and be able to negotiate from a position of strength. It is clear that this will not happen, and that it will lead to more destruction, more casualties, more distancing from peace and the loss of even more territory by Ukraine. That is why forums like today's are extremely important, Radev pointed out.

Radev noted that together with King Abdullah II of Jordan they are welcoming in Sofia nearly 30 delegations led by heads of state, representatives of governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and heads of diplomatic missions in Bulgaria.

The two officials welcomed at the forum in Sofia the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovic, President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic, President of Slovenia Natasa Pirc Musar, President of Albania Bajram Begaj, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, President of Croatia Zoran Milanovic, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and Minister of the Interior of Belgium Bernard Quintin. Representatives of nearly 30 delegations led by heads of state, representatives of governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and heads of diplomatic missions in the country are taking part in the meeting, the presidential press secretariat said.

The forum, which was first initiated in 2015 by King Abdullah II, is dedicated to current issues related to terrorism, illegal migration and radicalization and provides the opportunity to analyze challenges, compare perspectives and seek common solutions in the interest of international peace and security, the Head of State further wrote.

With an official ceremony on Thursday at St. Alexander Nevsky Square in Sofia, President Rumen Radev welcomed King Abdullah II of Jordan, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Head of State.