In the UN headquarters in New York, President Rosen Plevneliev and Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner for Refugees, discussed the necessity to update the plan for tackling the problem related to the increasing number of Syrian refugees. The Head of State informed Guterres about the measures Bulgaria has taken to accommodate the Syrian citizens. He said that the capacity for temporary accommodation has already been exhausted and additional opportunities to that effect are sought.
Before the Bulgarian President, Antonio Guterres forecast that the refugee crisis will not be solved soon and emphasized the necessity to adopt sustainable models and take decisions, including such at a national level, to the meet challenges.
“There is no prompt solution to the crisis, therefore Bulgaria must be ready to act promptly and adequately,” President Rosen Plevneliev emphasized.
The situation is becoming more serious and the number of refugees is increasing and according to latest information their number exceeds 2.2 million people, mainly in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Italy and Greece.
The President and High Commissioner shared the opinion that new places for accommodation and extra funding should be secured and Bulgaria must use all mechanisms ensuring support and funding, including those along the line of the EU and UN.
The two also discussed the attitude to those in exile and emphasized the necessity to show a sympathetic and humane attitude to the people seeking protection. According to the Head of State, Bulgaria is a symbol of hospitality, tolerance and humaneness and must currently display these values.
The President also emphasized Bulgaria’s good cooperation with the representative of the UN High Commission for Refugees, with which the authorities in Sofia are in permanent contact.
In a talk held with Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, Rosen Plevneliev voiced his support for Albania’s European integration by acquiring the status of an EU candidate-member in December 2013. The two leaders further agreed on Bulgaria’s providing expert assistance when drawing up the general plans for management of the country’s water sector. Plevneliev and Rama also discussed the opportunities for strengthening the cooperation in the energy, trade and tourism sectors.
In New York President Rosen Plevneliev took part in Bill Clinton’s Global Initiative, together with world state and government leaders, as well as political leaders.
The Head of State also visited the National Memorial 9/11 and paid tribute to the victims of the terrorist act in the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001.