site.btaUPDATED President Iotova: On Conflict in Ukraine, Bulgaria Consistently Upholds Position of No Military Solution

With regard to the conflict in Ukraine, Bulgaria has consistently maintained the position that there is no military solution to this war, President Iliana Iotova said here on Monday. "Our position today is clear; the question is whether it is possible to secure a majority among our European partners and convince them of our arguments," she noted during an annual conference of the ambassadors and permanent representatives of Bulgaria abroad.

According to the head of State, there is a flaw in European policy because no solution has been proposed on the international stage to end the conflict in Ukraine or to define the conditions under which this is possible.

The debate that has erupted in recent days regarding Bulgaria’s participation in the Coalition of the Willing is an issue of both domestic and international significance, Iotova noted. Bulgaria’s position at this moment is correct, she added. 

According to Iotova, the creation of the Coalition of the Willing was the result of disagreements among the countries. “And at that time, more than a year ago, it was intended to counteract the isolation of Europe - of the EU - from the overall negotiation process, which was then taking place between the US and Russia,” she said. There has been a shift in focus - from an intention to sit at the negotiating table to providing greater military aid to Ukraine and forming a coalition within the coalitions, she argued.

"We face the risk that such coalitions could militarize foreign policy, and we must have a clear national position on this issue," the President believes. The existence of satellite formats would make sense if they presented a European response on how to first reach the negotiating table and the options for a successful outcome, the head of State added. Iotova is convinced that Ukraine’s stability and security cannot be achieved when precisely these steps and actions are bypassed.

Bulgaria has no policy of participating in military or peacekeeping forces without the approval of the National Assembly, the President went on to say. Military aid to Ukraine is provided in accordance with the authorizations of Parliament and within the framework of the organizations in which Bulgaria participates - the EU and NATO, she added.

Iotova believes that Bulgaria cannot remain passive in the face of global events. "Bulgaria does not need to choose between its national identity and its European affiliation, but we must be a country that proposes solutions, rather than merely supporting decisions that have already been made," Iotova also said. "We are consistent, competent, and good partners. Differing opinions or nuances in certain policies do not mean Euroskepticism, but rather strong positions," she underscored. Key positions on important current issues are developed here in the country, with the broadest possible public consensus, and are defended before the Member States, Iotova also said.

On relations with the Republic of North Macedonia, Bulgarian policy has shown that it can achieve significant results and be successful when "we are united as institutions, professionals, and as a society," she said further. "We cannot fail to acknowledge that throughout this entire period, we, too, have made many mistakes. We still have unresolved issues. We have not convinced all European countries of Bulgaria’s position," Iotova stated.

In her speech, she also highlighted Bulgaria's position on the EU’s multiannual financial framework.

In her remarks, the President called for coordination among institutions regarding Bulgarian foreign policy. “The worst signal we can send to the outside world is when one institution learns from the media that another institution has made a decision,” Iotova noted. She cited as an example the agreement with Ukraine which the previous caretaker government signed without notifying the President or Parliament. It is best that the most important decisions for Bulgaria, no matter how difficult, be made together and by consensus, Iotova underscored. "I cannot accept that the country’s president does not know the Foreign Ministry’s position on various issues," Iotova also noted. Bulgaria must speak to the world with one voice, she believes.

In her remarks, the head of State also expressed hope for improved funding for diplomatic missions. “Let us work together to ensure that the Bulgarian flag flies with dignity and that we are a reliable and respected partner,” Iotova urged.