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President Rumen Radev in Brussels:

Bulgaria supports the initiative of France and Germany for direct dialogue with Russia

Photo: EPA/BGNES

After attending the European Council meeting in Brussels, Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev told reporters that open issues between the EU and Russia should be resolved in direct dialogue. Radev stressed that it was also a question of the level of the EU's ambition to be a factor or an observer on a global scale. According to him, realism is needed in geopolitics and it is no coincidence that at the last European Council he expressed the position that seven years of sanctions have not led to the desired results and therefore it is necessary to look for new tools to develop relations with Russia. 

"We are only losing from the mutual opposition and that is why Presidents Biden and Putin have given the first signal in this direction," Rumen Radev said.

Regarding the Plan for Reconstruction and Sustainability of Bulgaria, the President pointed out that it should be developed in such a way as to reach as many people as possible and lead to real modernization of the country. The head of state reminded that the caretaker government is working hard on the Plan, which is in line with European requirements and leads to economic growth with clear priorities. An example in this direction is the project for the construction of an air medical emergency system with 6 helicopters, which will allow a reaction in the first hour of receiving an emergency signal.

Asked about the discussion on the anti-pedophilia law passed by Hungary, the president stressed that condemning Hungary would not solve the problem. "The right to self-determination is a fundamental value and it must be upheld, but no one has the right to impose their understandings and worldview on others," the head of state said, stressing that the motives of the Hungarian side should be sought, which passed the law in defense of children and families.


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