“As head of state, I will do everything in my power so that tensions do not arise in society after the assault on the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. We have to maintain quiet and allow the institutions to do their job,” President Rosen Plevneliev told the traditional annual reception for the heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the Republic of Bulgaria, held this year in the Archaeological Museum in Sofia.
The President reiterated that Bulgarian society is rightly proud of its tolerance and democratic culture and described this intolerable act of abuse as completely incompatible with the values and foundations of society and the Bulgarian state.
President Plevneliev confirmed to the diplomats the Presidential institution’s commitment to continue to be proactive in seeking consensus and results on national priorities. “Over the past year, progress has been made regarding a number of key reforms in the country – the new procedures for the election of members of the Supreme Judicial Council, the Constitutional Court and the Prosecutor-General made it possible for there to be competition and transparency,” he said. He added that morality and good reputation should be the leading considerations in the choice of senior representatives of the Bulgarian state.
The forthcoming holding of the first national referendum in the modern history of Bulgaria also is of high value and is a success for democracy and civil society, the President said. He said that civil society is gaining momentum in the country, people are organising around one or another cause, regardless of political affiliation, and the Presidential institution will continue to encourage this process. The President said that it was precisely the public interest that required political parties to put aside partisan battles in this election year and seeking continuity and sustainability in regard to national priorities. “The future of Bulgaria is in what it produces, and for that reason we are embarking on new industrial and cluster policies to support investment, innovation and technological development of the economy,” President Plevneliev said. He told the diplomats that he would encourage the political forces represented in Parliament to agree within the framework of the month of political consultations on the upcoming elections, so that the good pace achieved in the absorption of EU funds was not jeopardized.
President Plevneliev assured the diplomats that this year Bulgaria would continue to be a reliable partner in addressing issues on the European and international agenda. “We will continue to work to attract more investments, to secure new markets and to improve Bulgaria’s reputation in the world,” the President said. Like last year, a regional priority for Bulgaria remains the building of stable bilateral relations with the countries of South Eastern Europe and the Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of the Western Balkans.
“I hope that in 2013 Bulgaria will receive the expected recognition of meeting the criteria for entry into the Schengen zone,” the President emphasised, and expressed appreciation to the diplomats for the support given to Bulgaria in this process.
President Plevneliev said that in 2013, Bulgaria would ensure a dignified celebration of two important anniversaries, not only in Bulgarian but also in world history – the 70th anniversary of the Bulgarian people’s unique feat in the rescue of the Bulgarian Jewish community during World War 2 and the celebration of the 1150th anniversary of the Great Moravian Mission by Saints Cyril and Methodius.
“Just a year ago, the Bulgarian people entrusted you with the highest office in the state. In this time, your visionary leadership and openness to the world has won you the confidence of the international community and its leaders,” said the doyen of the diplomatic corps, Micheline Abi Samra, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lebanon.
Ambassador Abi Samra said that in the world today, no country could exist as an island, sheltered from international and regional issues, and therefore the efforts being made in the name of peace can and must prevail in the fight against terrorism, poverty and ideological conflicts. “For that reason, I want to congratulate you, Mr President, for your outstanding efforts to promote dialogue and understanding among peoples,” Ambassador Abi Samra told the Bulgarian head of state. She called for continued efforts and support from the international community for maintaining and achieving the dream of freedom and democracy in the countries of the “Arab Spring”.