Sustainable development can be achieved only through an effective mechanism for global security, promoting dialogue and multilateral diplomacy, which have recently been exposed to pressure. This is what President Rumen Radev said in the statement he made at the top-level political forum, dedicated to the fulfillment of the sustainable development goals, which is held under the auspices of the UN General Assembly. The Head of State emphasized that the constant increase in defense spending is an indicator that the security environment is deteriorating and mistrust is on the rise.

The pursuit of technological superiority aimed at political dominance results in the encapsulation of science within narrow geographical boundaries and at the same time encourages scientific emigration thus creating a technological chasm among countries, the President further said. In his words, this makes it imperative to preserve the support for the so-called approach to “open science” and scientific cohesion between the individual countries.

In the President’s opinion, sustainable development requires a global consensus against cross-border corruption, money laundering and tax evasion.

Economic development, social cohesion and the fight against climate changes are logically at the center of the debate on sustainable development. However, for it to be successful, equally important is that a comprehensive approach should be adopted which utilizes various tools – from political to cultural, the President further said. If cultural differences are not correctly interpreted, understood and perceived as natural rights, they would give rise to a lot of threats such as religious extremism and terrorism, President Rumen Radev further said in the statement he made at the top-level political forum, dedicated to the UN sustainable development goals.