Rumen Radev's refusal to participate in the NATO meeting divides Bulgarian society and is harmful for the national interest.
"This is a demonstration of the discrepancy between the president's personal position on the issues of NATO development and aid to Ukraine and the legitimately formed position of Bulgaria. It is not a useful step for our country, but it is his right and decision.
While the post-election process of appointing the leaders of the European institutions is still in half, this week another important - Euro-Atlantic choice - became emphatically clear. The new Secretary General of NATO has been announced. After 10 years in office, Jens Stoltenberg (the former prime minister of Norway) will be replaced by Mark Rutte, who has been prime minister of the Netherlands for nearly 14 years.
Rütte secured the support of all 32 member states of the alliance - most recently Turkey and Hungary, whose leaders were looking for something in return for their support, as well as Romania, whose president Klaus Iohannis thought the time had come for a politician from the eastern flank to take responsibility to lead NATO.
"Rütte will take up the post at a very challenging time. It's about continuity and build-up. NATO exists to ensure the defense of the free world, but with the mechanisms of deterrence. Avoiding war is better than any defense. Now that we have an extremely aggressive Russia and a full-scale war, it is important that there is also a visible effort by the Alliance that sends a clear signal to the Russian Federation.
NATO is able to guarantee the peace and security of the countries of Europe with its unity and determination.
When we talk about peace, it should be added that we are looking for a sustainable and just one, explained Shalamanov in the program "Saturday 150".
"Anyone else is in quotes and leads to an even greater threat of full-scale conflict. Peace can be achieved as early as the next day after the Russian president withdraws his forces from Ukraine and talks begin to cover the costs of its recovery and prosecution of war crimes committed by Russian forces.
He analyzes the desire of a group of EU and NATO leaders to hold negotiations with the Kremlin.
"Such negotiations are not taking place because they are working to have a consolidated position of the entire international community. On the other hand, it is clear that negotiations can begin only when the Kremlin reaches an understanding that it is not possible to divide the free world and win.
"I don't think that Bulgaria is hesitating about this choice. Misunderstanding raises the question of why our country fails to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by NATO membership. Bulgarian participation is not visible".
A possible return of Trump to the White House will not mean the end of the Alliance – as it is, Shalamanov is categorical.