The stability of Lebanon is crucial
16 January 2012 News
The Arab Spring will be judged on whether the countries in the region have managed to establish just societies and whether they have created better security and more equitable economic opportunities for their citizens, Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov told a conference in Beirut entitled “Reforms and Transition to Democracy”.
Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister was participating in the conference together with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Mladenov said that a lack of fairness in society, after the initial success of the changes, can quickly bring people on to the streets. He cited the Bulgarian experience, saying that changing society often takes more time than the political transformation.
Later, Minister Mladenov met the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Nadjib Mikati, and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.
Given the situation in the region, it is crucial to maintain stability in Lebanon, Foreign Minister Mladenov said after his meeting with Prime Minister Mikati. They discussed the difficult situation in Syria as well as the possibilities to lend support to trade between Bulgaria and Lebanon.
At their meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed the possibility of exchanging visits in order to give new impetus to bilateral relations and discussed organising a Lebanese-Bulgarian business forum.
Later, Nickolay Mladenov delivered a lecture at the American University in Beirut along with former president of Chile Michelle Bachelet.