Bulgaria supports the noble mission of the UN that development policies and not military conflicts determine the future of humanity. This was stated by President Rumen Radev at a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York. President Radev highlighted the opportunity that the rostrum of the UN General Assembly provides to each country, where the heads of state and government are on an equal footing and their significance is determined solely by the strength of the messages addressed to the world.

 

A common view was that the military crises in Ukraine and the Middle East threaten peace and stability and exacerbate division in the world. The head of state expressed hope that the UN Security Council will become an effective tool to prevent military conflicts and crises in a timely manner, which will return humanity's focus to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Rumen Radev also expressed his concern about the ongoing hostilities near the borders of Europe, as a result of which migration flows are increasing, the risk of radicalisation and terrorist acts is increasing.

 

Strengthening peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations, which are the topics of this year's 79th session of the UN General Assembly, should be common goals and unite the entire international community, regardless of the differences between individual countries, Antonio Guterres pointed out. The UN Secretary General also emphasised the significant role of Bulgaria as a source of ideas and initiatives for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Earlier in the day, President Rumen Radev held informal talks with his colleagues within the framework of the session of the UN General Assembly and participated in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative - a high-level partnership format between NATO and the Council for Cooperation in the Persian Gulf, agreed in 2004 at the NATO Summit in Istanbul.

 

Rumen Radev and his wife Desislava Radeva attended the reception given by US President Joseph Biden and his wife Dr Jill Biden in honour of the heads of state and government and their wives on the occasion of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.