Annual Conference of the Ambassadors of the Republic of Bulgaria
23 July 2015 News
"We as a diplomatic community will give everything in order to position Bulgaria in the best way possible. For us Bulgaria’s interests are above all." With these words Minister Daniel Mitov welcomed the representatives of the Bulgarian diplomatic corps who gathered in Sofia for the Annual Ambassadors' Conference. The official opening ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
In his opening speech, the Prime Minister informed Federica Mogherini and the diplomats about the current internal political situation, focusing on the government's efforts to conduct reforms in various sectors. "We have made significant progress in the pension and the health care reforms. I hope that we can reach consensus on the judicial reforms," the Prime Minister said.
For his part, Minister Daniel Mitov emphasized that Bulgaria’s diplomatic service adheres to the classical maxim that the value of a state’s foreign policy is in providing the best possible external conditions for the development and the prosperity of its nation. “We are standing firmly on European values, we have no hesitation in our choice and this gives us a clear guideline for the direction in which we are going,” the Foreign Minister said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Mitov outlined the priorities of Bulgaria’s foreign policy. "From the standpoint of our national interest a particularly important aspect is the prevention of the consequences of the actions of the so-called “Islamic State” and other terrorist groups, leading to increased migration pressure on Bulgaria and the EU," he said, calling for solidarity and shared responsibility among the Member States. Minister Mitov focused also on the challenges facing the EU, the crisis in Ukraine, ensuring the energy security of our country, Bulgaria’s interests in Southeast Europe and the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council in 2018.
“The Presidency is a chance for modernization of the administration, while the procedures and the participation in the EU negotiation process will make us more successful in promoting Bulgarian national interests,” Minister Mitov said. He highlighted the importance of Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area, adding that strengthening EU’s external border would send a strong signal of the unity of the Alliance in the fight against terrorism and illegal migration. During his speech, the Bulgarian first diplomat emphasized that providing protection for Bulgarian citizens and communities abroad is a major priority of the Bulgarian state.
Speaking at the conference, the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini emphasized the importance of Bulgaria’s contribution in shaping the European policies. She said that our country is actively involved in the review process of the European Neighbourhood Policy, emphasizing on the inclusion of the security dimension and the energy diversification at Bulgaria’s proposal. "It is in the interest of both Bulgaria and Europe as a whole. When we say Europe, we say Bulgaria, when we say Brussels, we say Sofia," Mogherini said.
EU’s High Representative noted that the Member States are facing many common challenges that require solidarity and consolidated approach. In her words, EU countries share the same long-term goals such as the rule of law, energy security and sustainable development for the entire continent. "The integration of the Western Balkans is of particular importance for the stabilization of the region. The process is complex, but we can be sure that the path of the Western Balkans ends in the EU," said in conclusion Federica Mogherini.
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