In an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Radev called for international support for Ukraine to go hand in hand with diplomatic efforts to stop hostilities

 

Bulgaria and Greece share a common responsibility not only for energy diversification but also for the European future of our region, President Rumen Radev said in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini. The head of State is on a visit today to the Greek capital Athens, during which Bulgaria and Greece will sign two memorandums of understanding on the construction of an oil pipeline between Alexandroupolis and Burgas, as well as on cooperation on guaranteeing gas supplies and storing natural gas.

 

In his interview, Rumen Radev described the two documents as a decisive step in the efforts to improve Europe's energy security. We take full responsibility to translate these opportunities into real visible change for our citizens, as we have already done with the commercial operation of the Greece - Bulgaria gas interconnector in October 2022, which also makes a great contribution to the energy diversification of the region, the President stressed.

 

Radev also noted that work is continuing on the construction of the liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupolis, which should be completed by the end of 2023 and become the gateway to the global LNG market.

 

As EU member states and NATO allies, Bulgaria and Greece are responsible for strengthening regional security and stability, the head of State further said. The President stressed that the Bulgarian society's sensitivity to Russia's historical role in Bulgaria's Liberation from Ottoman rule does not change the fact that this country condemns Russia's aggression and war against Ukraine. Bulgaria will continue to provide support to Ukraine within its capabilities and to the Ukrainian refugees on Bulgarian territory, but the sad anniversary of the beginning of this brutal war, which has brought terrible suffering, death, and utter devastation to Ukraine, with dangerous consequences on a global scale is approaching. That is why, in the President's words, collective pressure is urgently needed to put an end to this tragedy and stop the senseless violence, avoiding escalation as soon as possible. I believe that support for Ukraine should go hand in hand with active efforts through diplomacy and other effective mechanisms to stop this debilitating war, Rumen Radev further stressed.

 

Responding to a question about the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM), the head of State recalled that Bulgaria has always supported the country in its most difficult moments and that all the countries of the region set as their goal their accession to United Europe. However, the launch of EU accession negotiations requires a certain European maturity, the fulfilment of a number of criteria, among which respect for human rights is a must, Rumen Radev stressed.

 

In the President's words, in recent months we have witnessed the failure of the stated ambitions of the RNM for European integration, following the perpetration of a number of hate crimes against local Bulgarians. The arson attacks and shooting against Bulgarian cultural clubs in the RNM and the physical violence against Bulgarians in the country reveal a situation that is closer to the dark past of the Balkans than to their European future, the head of State said.

 

Rumen Radev reminded that both Bulgaria and the RNM had accepted the proposal of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, which envisaged a certain negotiating framework for our neighbour. In order to fully start accession negotiations, the RNM needs to complete the agreed constitutional amendments and include the Bulgarians in North Macedonia on an equal footing with the other state-forming peoples listed in its constitution. Without this step, the negotiations cannot really start, the head of State said in the interview. Therefore, the President opines, the political leadership of the RNM should be encouraged to take bold steps to democratise the country.