„The very fact that countries and their peoples seek to become members of the organization, seeing in it a sure protection, speaks more than anything. And this is evident in these few days.“
This is how the diplomat and vice-president of the Atlantic Club, Elena Poptodorova, commented to Euronews Bulgaria about the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Sofia.
The Soviet empire collapsed centrifugally. And NATO shows exactly the opposite trend – centripetal. The neutrality of Sweden and Finland survived until Putin invaded Ukraine. Four neutral countries – Austria, Malta, Ireland and Switzerland – sent a targeted letter to the Secretary General of NATO, in which they asked to enter into a much stronger relationship and cooperation with the Alliance, including participation in military maneuvers, in exercises, in the exchange of information, intelligence...
And they define themselves as “the closest partners” of NATO in terms of value. And they want to emphasize the growing importance of their partnership in NATO.
The NATO Assembly accepted two new delegations as partners – of Malta and Kosovo, added Poptodorova.
According to her, Bulgaria presented itself very well at the forum.
“These parliamentary delegations – of 32 member states and another 25 partner countries – represent the entire political spectrum. The full political palette of each country. And together they reached the declaration that was adopted today /b.r. yesterday“, pointed out Elena Poptodorova.