“We are convinced that NATO changed Bulgaria and our whole region for the better,” Rosen Plevneliev, President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Armed Forces said at the opening ceremony of the two-day international conference “Future NATO” in Sofia.
In this quickly-changing world NATO remains the major source of stability, Rosen Plevneliev said. He defined the Alliance as a basic pillar that ensures a stronger democracy and guarantees freedom and stability. Plevneliev said that the enlargement of NATO is yet again on the agenda and Bulgaria strongly supports the Alliance’s policy of open doors.
In Rosen Plevneliev’s words, Bulgaria’s NATO accession ten years ago was not only a statehood act of achieving Bulgaria’s strategic goal, but also serves the interests of the next generation. The President voiced gratitude to all Bulgarian politicians and statesmen who pooled efforts and ensured Bulgaria’s membership in the Organization.
In his statement, President Rosen Plevneliev said that the most reasonable question politicians should ask themselves before acting is what impact their act will have on Bulgaria’s children. “What impact will it have on the next generation if we continue to depend on one gas supplier. Will it be good for Bulgaria’s children if we continue to provide insufficient funding of the Bulgarian army and its capabilities,” the Head of State asked.
The President further commented that by jointly purchasing and maintaining armaments and military equipment, the governments may build up more capabilities for less money. “We should all be aware that uniting and sharing do not replace either the necessary investments for new or available military capabilities nor the political framework that specifies how these capabilities will be used,” Rosen Plevneliev said. As excellent examples of regional defense cooperation he pinpointed the Association for Baltic Cooperation in defense, as well as the cooperation between the countries from the Visegrad four.
Rosen Plevneliev supports the idea for a narrower specialization of the countries within NATO. The Southeast European countries should start thinking and acting in regional terms by specializing and sharing resources with other member states of the Alliance. “For instance, it is logical to assume that Bulgaria, Romania and Greece should launch and implement common projects,” the President said.
The two-day conference “Future NATO” is part of the program marking the 10th anniversary of Bulgaria’s NATO membership and is held under the auspices of the Head of State. The conference is attended by Terry Stamatopoulos, NATO assistant secretary general for Political Affairs and Security Policy, President Petar Stoyanov (1997-2001), Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin and Defense Minister Angel Naydenov, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (2001-2005), the president of the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria Solomon Passy, diplomats, scholars and experts.