site.btaPresident: Bulgarian Diplomacy Succeeds When It Is Not Subject to Narrow Partisan Interests

President Rumen Radev delivered an address for Bulgarian Diplomatic Service Day during a reception at the Boyana Residence here on Tuesday, the President's press centre said in a press release. Attending the ceremony were also Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Vice President Iliana Iotova, members of the diplomatic corps, ministers, and MPs.

"The history of Bulgarian foreign policy shows unequivocally that success has accompanied our diplomacy when it was not subject to narrow partisan interests, when it followed clearly formulated and consensually accepted national goals and ideals, when professionalism and not party loyalty was the main criterion for career development," Radev said.

The President highlighted Bulgaria's significant role as a key driver of European integration in the Western Balkans. "This is a contribution to the consolidation of the common European space of security, stability and prosperity," Radev said, but he also expressed the expectation that the country would not back down from the most important criterion in this process, namely EU enlargement based on the candidate countries' own merits. "That is why full unity between the institutions is necessary, and when asymmetric actions are applied to our country, diplomacy should expand its toolbox of influence so that we protect our national interest and, above all, the rights of our compatriots abroad," the head of State said.

In his address, the President highlighted the high dynamics of geopolitical processes and the complicated security environment, the fierce economic competition, the rapid penetration of technology and artificial intelligence in many spheres of human activity, the progressive offensive against human rights and democracy in many regions of the world, which pose a number of challenges to diplomacy. In Radev's words, this also increases the demands on Bulgaria's foreign policy and diplomats to strengthen the country's voice and role in the alliances and organizations of which it is a member.

"The effectiveness of the foreign policy will also depend on how we follow the principles of professionalism and continuity in its development," Radev said, stressing that this requires interaction between all institutions, as well as political and public consensus on important foreign policy issues. The head of State said that this is the criterion for setting a long-term and sustainable framework for Bulgarian foreign policy and expressed his expectation for the manifestation of national responsibility and reason in its formulation and implementation.

The President called on Bulgaria's membership in Schengen and the euro area not to be seen as a one-off achievement that can be brushed aside, because both instruments should lead to Bulgarians living better and more securely. "A lot of work is still required, aimed at economizing our foreign policy, related to attracting investments, stimulating and supporting Bulgarian exports, promoting our country," Rumen Radev said. He added that the country's membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development should not be pursued only for image benefits, but above all for the deep reforms on the way to achieving this goal. "Reforms to make our economy and our societal systems much more efficient and competitive," the President said.

Radev also highlighted the importance of the economy as a priority in the work of the Bulgarian diplomats against the background of increasingly fierce trade wars. He reminded that the EU is developing directions in terms of diversification of trade relations. "Unfortunately, for various reasons over the years our country has withdrawn from important regions where we had a strong political, diplomatic and economic presence," the President said, pointing to North Africa, the Middle East, Central and East Asia, and Latin America. "I hope that now in line with the new European policy we will start going back there with diplomacy, initiatives, financial and economic approaches," Radev said.

Regarding the security environment, the head of State expressed gratitude to the diplomats for their work for the development of the country's defence capacity, for the strengthening of the common defence potential within NATO and the EU security system. "I expect even greater activity and a stronger role of Bulgarian diplomacy in all international formats aimed at ceasefire in these active zones around us, achieving a just peace and returning international relations to the basis of international law," Radev said.

In his address, the President congratulated Bulgarian diplomats for their work and expressed gratitude for the active efforts they are making despite the objective difficulties they are facing. "I believe that the Government's determination to improve your working conditions will be put into action and will not be a one-off act," Radev said, stressing that their work is extremely important for the Bulgarian national security and prosperity. "A small investment in you has a huge effect on all spheres of activity of our country and society, right here in Bulgaria," the President said, quoted by the press secretariat.