„Serbian World” has no place in the European Union. The bloc had a romantic view of Serbia, but it has woken up. The country is not sincere in its desire to be part of the EU.
Bulgaria must wage an uncompromising value battle against the ideologies that broke the Balkans. We should not turn a blind eye to North Macedonia's aggressive violation of international law.
This was stated in an interview for BGNES by President Rosen Plevneliev /2012 - 2017/.
„Ideologies that border on fascist and want the dominance of one nation over another have no place in the European Union. Thank God the world democratic elite has woken up to what is happening in Serbia. Bulgaria is obliged to point out this development - Serbia is not sincere in its actions. This means that everyone in the EU must realize, despite the romantic attitude towards Serbia until recently, some very important facts. First, the unshakable friendship between Serbia and Russia. Second, the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Belgrade, in which a joint declaration on “shared future” was announced. What that future holds remains to be seen. Bearing in mind the confrontation between the EU and the USA, as the leading drivers of the democratic world, with Russia and China, this does not bode well for the Balkans, Plevneliev is emphatic.
He recalled that Serbia has practically opened absolutely all negotiation chapters and has not closed any.
„This means that Serbia is not sincere in its desire to make the reforms that would move it towards the European Union. We must state the true facts. Unfortunately, with the new Serbian government, it is more of a problem for us than a hope and a solution. We must face this problem with patience, values and hope”, the president also said.
Rosen Plevneliev noted that at the moment, unfortunately, there is no good news in the Balkans. “The development in Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro is a fruit of great concern for all of us, so we must be focused and responsible. Bulgaria must be strong in the Balkans, a factor for European development and stability, but also lead the value battle against ideologies of the past, which broke everything in the Balkans, led to ethnic cleansing and wars. "Bulgaria, as a factor for peace and stability, must oppose such actions," he emphasized.
When asked by BGNES what the Bulgarian policy towards North Macedonia should be, after the first calls of the new government are for revision of the agreements with Bulgaria and Greece, Plevneliev answered:
„Bulgaria, as a democratic country, cannot accept any action that violates the rules of the international order. From this point of view, we must be uncompromising. No objective can be achieved if the rule of law is violated. Unfortunately, we see a request from the new state leadership in North Macedonia for a brutal and aggressive violation of international norms, and we cannot turn a blind eye. We must be the elder in the room, a factor of stability and development in the region. Bulgaria must point out every violation of international rules, laws, treaties by the RSM, but always be part of the solution.“
The president pointed out that “the people of North Macedonia do not deserve to have rulers who distance the country from European integration.
„We must help the people of this brotherly, neighboring country to understand what is the right approach – in no case is it an explosion of the rule of law,”, President Rosen Plevneliev said in conclusion. /BGNES