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The President: Solidarity is A Main Principle in the EU and When a State Feels Threatened It Is Normal and Necessary for All to Stand with Them

The European report on the policy towards Russia must consider the worrying characteristics as well as the necessity of a dialogue, declared the Head of State in Brussels

Solidarity is a main principle in the EU and when a state feels threatened it is normal and necessary for all to stand with them. We discussed the relations with Russia until late last night and it was a debate of reason and clear judgement, stated today President Rumen Radev before journalists when asked about the debates during the Special Meeting of the European Council in Brussels regarding the Union’s policy towards Russia following the explosions in ammunition depots on the territory of the Czech Republic.

“You know what happened with the Czech Republic. It was included in a list of unfriendly countries. Some 20 Czech diplomats were expelled from Russia, so here the solidarity principle is absolutely mandatory,” the Head of State said.

The President assured that the discussions were based on a “balanced report of the European Unio High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell,” and many European leaders expressed their concern about the condition of relations with Russia. The conclusion is that growing tension and division in Europe is not at all beneficial to the EU and therefore in the Declaration itself it is clearly stated that the policy regarding Russia must continue based on the five principles of EU policy on Russia, a main part of which is dialogue. “Therefore, the EU High Representative was tasked with drafting a report on the necessary policy regarding Russia so as to consider all the worrying characteristics as well as the necessity of a dialogue,” the Head of State declared.

Questioned as to whether our country also feels threatened by Russia, the President called for an answer to come from those who reported to our partners on the threats against Bulgaria. “You are well aware of who reported to NATO, and to Brussels. I have not personally received this report,” Mr. Rumen Radev pointed out.

The Head of State also called for using all mechanisms for cooperating with Russia in the field of security, climate change, and overcoming Covid, which gives an opportunity to seek balance and maintain the dialogue.

“We must seek new tools for working with Russia. You see, we have been in a regime of sanctions since 2014. Does this change the behaviour for the better? Are we using up all the instruments for achieving our aims vis-à-vis Russia? This is what I shared, and the other leaders agreed with me on this, that we must look for new paths, and implement new methods - new tools to achieve progress on what we want to see as a final result,” President Rumen Radev further added o the topic of the European Council debate on the EU-Russian Federation relations.