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Radev: The Main Challenge Facing the World Is the Risk of Global Military Conflict and the Undermining of Economic and Social Systems Worldwide

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires clear political will, commitment and dialogue between governments, the civil and the business sectors, the head of state stressed

The main challenge facing the world remains the risk of global military conflict and the undermining of economic and social systems worldwide by the war in Ukraine. This is what President Rumen Radev told the media in NYC. The Head of State heads the Bulgarian delegation and represents this country at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. Today, the President participated in the Sustainable Development Goals Summit. The top-level political forum is under the auspices of the UN General Assembly.

Radev stressed that today's meeting on the Sustainable Development Goals marks the mid-point of the period for achieving the ambitious goals aimed at accelerating social and economic development while preserving the efforts to protect the environment, set in 2015. The President also quoted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying that only 15% of these goals will be met if there is no change in approaches. A huge part of them is stagnant, and in others there is a significant regression, the head of state said, pointing to the reasons in the overlapping crises: COVID-19, the energy crisis, military conflicts and climate change. This, he added, has a negative impact on overall economic and social development, poverty and health. Much more coordinated efforts need to be made at all levels, the President stressed. Achieving success requires above all clear political will and commitment from governments, the civil sector and business. This is especially true for Bulgaria, which continues to struggle with poverty and inequalities, and dialogue as the main means for finding a solution is giving way to confrontation, Rumen Radev further said.

He added that the forum aims to promote dialogue and consensus. First of all political will is needed, if it is present, most of the problems will have a solution.

The war in Ukraine is undermining socioeconomic development and global security. A solution is needed as soon as possible, the President said, pointing out that along with the sustainable development goals, the issue could not but come into focus at the Summit. Radev expressed his expectation that the United Nations, established in the years after the devastating World War II, will strengthen its role as an instrument for finding peace.