WWI and the events that followed it are bitter lessons. We should interpret the meaning of these lessons drawn from the whole past century and reaffirm our adherence to mutual respect, good-neighborliness and the refusal to exert violence as a means to resolve conflicts. This is what Rumen Radev called for, taking a journalist’s question. The Head of State is on a visit to the French Republic at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron to take part in the Paris Peace Forum and the commemoration of 100 years since the end of WWI.
The President said that WWI is the result of the collision between the imperialist frame of thought, nationalistic dreams and economic interests. Unfortunately, 100 years later, these three elements are again on the rise and threaten the peace on the continent and in the world. “Today in Paris, state and government leaders gather to pay tribute to an enormous tragedy that claimed millions of lives. We should not forget that 100,000 Bulgarians are among them,” Rumen Radev emphasized.
Asked to comment on the idea for creating a common European army, the Head of State said that if unpredictability and confrontation continue to exist in the world, this will inevitably lead to creating full-fledged European defense forces.
The issue concerning the fulfillment of the commitments assumed by the European NATO member states to allocate adequate funds to build up defense capabilities cannot be promptly resolved, Rumen Radev said and added that the debate on this topic would continue. “When the issue was raised at the NATO summit in Brussels this year I expressed a clear position that on the one hand – yes, the European countries should allocate more funds to security. However, on the other hand, NATO is not a stock exchange at which you can buy security. NATO is a union of sovereign states, united by common goals and values. Therefore security is not simply measured in monetary terms. It has a lot of components,” the President added.
During their visit in Paris, the state and government leaders will see the“Picasso Bleu et Rose” exhibition in the D’Orsay Museum in Paris and will be received by the President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at the Elysee Palace.
Rumen Radev will make a statement dedicated the new technologies and their potential to be a factor for strengthening the political dialogue, economic growth and social cohesion, within his participation in the Paris Peace Forum.
During his visit in Paris Head of State Rumen Radev is accompanied by his wife Desislava Radeva.