Minister Svetlan Stoev: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to defend the interests of Bulgaria and Bulgarian citizens abroad
19 July 2021 News
Address of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Svetlan Stoev to the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of their professional holiday - the Day of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service:
Dear colleagues,
Accept my most sincere congratulations on the occasion of our professional holiday - the Day of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service! This is a holiday of the people defending the national interests on the international stage and the interests of the Bulgarians all over the world!
On July 19, 1879, Prince Alexander Battenberg issued a decree appointing the first Bulgarian diplomatic representatives abroad - in three neighboring countries of Bulgaria - Turkey, Romania and Serbia. 142 years later, Bulgaria has over 100 diplomatic and consular missions around the world and permanent missions to international organizations, as well as over 90 part-time honorary consuls.
The continuity of the foreign policy line is characteristic of diplomacy. As before, we will continue to address a wide range of issues in line with our country's foreign policy priorities. We will continue to protect the interests and security of Bulgarian citizens abroad, to make efforts to strengthen strategic stability in Europe and the world within its responsibilities and commitments as active members of the EU, NATO and the UN. Guided by the principle of multilateralism, based on international law, Bulgaria has always declared itself in support of international cooperation, which has irreplaceable added value in the efforts of countries to find effective and sustainable solutions to global problems.
We will continue to work to strengthen existing strategic alliances and our participation in the transatlantic partnership, based on common values between the EU and the United States. The topic of regional security is also key for us, given our geographical location in the strategically important Black Sea region and our role as an ally within NATO. We remain interested in establishing lasting peace and stability and expect a constructive and responsible approach from all stakeholders.
The EU Recovery and Resilience Facility "Next Generation EU" is also extremely important for European security and for overcoming the crisis with COVID-19. This is a timely and necessary resource that will allow us to increase the potential of our economy in the long run. The improvements to our National Recovery and Resilience Plan made by the caretaker government over the last two months aim to ensure this perspective.
Joining the Eurozone and the Schengen area, as well as the accession of our country to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, remain our constant priorities.
We continue to work to strengthen bilateral and good cooperation with our neighbors and to be among the biggest supporters of the European perspective of our neighbors in the Western Balkans. We are guided by the understanding that achieving this goal will promote prosperity in our part of Europe and will contribute to strengthening regional and international security. Even today, the European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans remains unalterable, but not unconditional. We are firmly and openly engaged in a constructive dialogue with the Republic of North Macedonia, which will provide the necessary guarantees for continuity and its continuation under the next regular government. Progress on this topic goes through the implementation of the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbor-relations, signed in 2017.
A reason for professional pride was the Bulgarian hosting of the Three Seas Initiative, which ended on July 9 with a Summit and Business Forum in Sofia. I am glad that to the established priorities - energy, transport and digital connectivity, our country has added a new focus to science, technology and innovation. Thanks to the colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who participated in the whole process of the Bulgarian hosting of the Initiative and contributed to its success!
On this day, I would like to thank once again my colleagues from the Central Office and from our foreign missions, who made incredible efforts to prepare and organize the elections on July 11, 2021 abroad in twice as many sections as in the previous vote, having the same resources at their disposal. Thank you for your dedication to this difficult task!
Dear colleagues,
I am sure that with joint efforts and responsible actions we will achieve the important goals set before us. I appreciate your perseverance, diligence and teamwork. The most valuable resource of the diplomatic service is you, its employees. I wish you health, inspiration and motivation in achieving even greater success, serving Bulgaria!
Svetlan Stoev
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria