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BORISSOV: MANIFESTATION OF EGOISM ON THE BALKANS WILL RESULT IN CONSEQUENCES ONLY FOR THE COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES OF THE REGION      

10.04.2018

After his meeting with Serbian President Aleksander Vucic, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov called on all the leaders of the Balkans to be reasonable and resist the provocations that have increased recently. During the meeting, the situation in the region was discussed, as well as the development of infrastructure projects that provide connectivity between countries here and the rest of Europe.  

 

In the last few years, we are all glad to see how the economy and investments pick up. One thing I am absolutely convinced about - the EU wants peace and prosperity on the Balkans. For the other big players on the international stage - I hope so, Borissov said at his joint press conference with Vucic.  

 

The Bulgarian Prime Minister, however, pointed out that the recent provocations and conflicts in the region are worrying for everyone. “The mood is not optimistic, there is rather a feeling that something is wrong and a few months ago it was not like that,” Borissov said, referring to the incidents and verbal exchanges between Serbia and Kosovo, the lack of agreement on the changes to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s electoral law, tensions around Cyprus and Greece, and the war in Syria. He welcomed Serbian President Vucic's efforts to preserve calmness in the negotiation process with Pristina and peace. “I sincerely hope that our colleagues in Kosovo will continue in the same spirit,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said, and added that he would seek talks with President Hashim Thaci.  

 

President Vucic was categorical that his country favors peace and stability in the region and that Serbia will continue to seek ways of finding a compromise in solving the problems between Belgrade and Pristina. He stressed that no conflicts are needed on the Balkans. “I will fight for stability, I will not be dormant,” Vucic said, adding that he would request the intervention of the international community to preserve the peace in the region. 

 

Borissov expressed optimism about the Sofia Summit for the Western Balkans, although some countries have not recognized Kosovo. “I hope we can find a way to solve these problems because on 17 May we have to start the Council with optimism, with resolved problems. We as the political elite are responsible for this. Everything else is selfish, everything else does not matter. Whoever allows egoism to lead them, will drag everyone to the bottom,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said.  

 

“I appeal to our brothers Muslims, Bosnians, Croats, Serbs, to the whole region – let us show reason because the consequences will only be for the Balkans to deal with. We have already experienced it. Bulgaria returned by decades back just because of the war. We should not be egotistic and think that a conflict will not concern any of us. It takes one second to cause collapse and 20 years to recover... Mostar is a good place to say this,” Borissov pointed out, reminding that it was this city in Bosnia and Herzegovina that was a symbol of the war of 20 years ago that stopped the development of the region. He was categorical that the EU wants peace and stability on the Balkans.