"Bulgaria is a modest and conservative nation, we have achieved everything thanks to our own efforts and we have never relied on anybody's help. We know what our problems are, we do not try to hide them and we do our best to solve them." These are the words whereby President Rosen Plevneliev summarized the situation in Bulgaria at the forum in Washington dedicated to the cross-Atlantic link in the new era. The debate in which the Bulgarian head of state participates is organized the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, the International Research Faculty at the John Hopkins University and the German Marshall fund of the United States. The forum was attended by two US ambassadors to Bulgaria - James Pardew and James Warlick, diplomats, scholars and experts.
According to the head of state, Bulgaria and the region have a great potential to develop, which should not be neglected. Rosen Plevneliev recalled that in the recent past Bulgarian goods were well known on the Middle East and Asian markets and it is namely these markets that show a great interest in our country.
Bulgaria does not deserve the image it has regarding corruption and organized crime, the Bulgarian President said. Rosen Plevneliev explained that the experience he had in business has taught him that 70 percent of success is the result of good communication and trust and it is here that Bulgaria has problems. The President once again recalled that the European politicians think they can improve their approval ratings by speaking against Bulgarians and defining them as threats for their social systems. At the same time our compatriots live in these countries and pay taxes, social security payments or education fees, the President recalled and emphasized once again that Bulgaria should more actively show its successes.
Europe must be more ambitious in global terms, the participants in the debate agreed, and stated that they considered the moment favorable to reach an agreement for trade and investments between the European Union and the United States, which will provide new economic opportunities not only for each individual country, but also in global terms.
On the last day of his working visit to the United States, the head of state will take part in a debate, dedicated to Europe's future, organized by the European Institute. The NGO, based in Washington, works to strengthen the cross-Atlantic relationships. The organization was founded 23 years ago and is a renowned institute for debating issues related to the European Union and European integration.
In the US capital, President Rosen Plevneliev will hold meetings with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group President.