YouSaid · the spoken record

Nickolay Mladenov

lines on the record: 49
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Taken together, these and other new challenges impede progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. We must be twice as vigilant as we have been until now. Our world today faces challenges that will shape its tomorrow. We need to be able to meet these challenges in a bold manner, with a clear vision for the future, and tackle them together as a global community of nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“The sad anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks in New York, which we commemorated this year, the more recent tragic events in Oslo, the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and other cities of the world prove that terrorism is a global cancer that does not discriminate against developed or developing countries and societies. Its eradication requires decisive action. The successful conclusion of the negotiations on the comprehensive convention on international terrorism has Bulgaria’s full support. I began my statement by focusing on the challenge of tackling non-communicable diseases. Human suffering caused by various illnesses is further exacerbated owing to the effects of the series of global crises in food, finance and energy and the threats associated with climate change.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“All States Parties, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are bound by the NPT regime. Leaving the NPT should not be without consequences. Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is also essential. As long as Iran continues not to provide greater transparency with regard to of its nuclear activities, the concerns of the international community will remain valid. Full compliance with Security Council resolutions and with the provisions of the IAEA safeguards agreement is crucial for a diplomatic solution of this case.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“International support has to continue beyond 2014 for Afghanistan. We were all saddened by the brutal murder of a great Afghan leader, former President Rabbani. His work must inspire us to continue supporting the Afghan Government’s efforts to achieve reconciliation and reintegration. It is high time for bold and decisive actions in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation as well. It is the legal and moral obligation of all of us to honour the commitments undertaken under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the outcome document of the 2010 Review Conference. A 21 11-51197 strengthened and robust NPT regime is in the interest of all States, especially with the growing risk of non-State actors getting access to weapons of mass destruction.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“On the contrary, the damage we have done to the planet’s geology, climate and ecosystems for most of the last century is so significant that scientists are increasingly asserting that the human race has actually managed to push the Earth much faster than usual into a new, possibly more unstable and dangerous geological period. We need both wise and courageous leadership from the United Nations in our efforts to guarantee peace and security — wise, so as to avoid the temptation to use force when it seems to get results faster than mediation and negotiation, and courageous, to take responsibility when the use of force is a must. The United Nations will benefit much from strengthening its cooperation with regional security organizations. The cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Afghanistan is an excellent example.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“First, the United Nations must be accountable to its Member States through a continued striving to improve management and the enforcement of strict budgetary discipline, especially in the current period of economic turmoil. We, the Member States, must also be accountable to the United Nations by fulfilling all our commitments, including by paying our financial contributions to the Organization fully, unconditionally and on time — a principle that Bulgaria upholds and adheres to closely. We all also need to be accountable to future generations for our actions. It is easy to speak of sustainable development, but at the moment we are not even remotely close to making it a reality.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“In order for the United Nations to be adequate to the challenges facing it today its institutions need to be reformed, first and foremost in the composition of the United Nations main body that guarantees international peace and security. We must build on the progress achieved so far in the negotiations on Security Council reform and move the process to a more results-oriented phase. Bulgaria considers that enlargement of the Council’s two categories of permanent and non-permanent members is one option that enjoys the support of a considerable number of delegations. The increase in the number of non-permanent seats should provide for a just representation of the Eastern European Group, whose membership has more than doubled over the past two decades. Transparency is impossible without accountability.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“If the leaders of Israel believe that no preconditions to a final settlement should be put in place, then the Palestinian leaders must refrain from such actions to give peace a chance. Bulgaria recognized the Palestinian State in 1988. We hold our friendship with both Israel and the Palestinian people dear. That is why we urge the immediate resumption of negotiations as the only road to peace. Bringing both sides to the negotiating table remains our top priority. I am sure that the United States, working in concert with the European Union, can facilitate this process based on a vision outlined by President Obama. Allow me to turn briefly to my delegation’s vision for the kind of leadership, the kind of United Nations we need for the next decade. An Organization created by 51 Member States functions today with 193 Members.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Bulgaria believes very strongly that the definitive solution to peace can only come through direct negotiations, but direct negotiations can resume only on the basis of trust and a real understanding of the security concerns and legitimate aspirations of both sides. Rebuilding trust between both parties is a prerequisite to resuming negotiations. Unilateral action, changing the realities on the ground cannot be a substitute for negotiations. Obstacles should be overcome, and preconditions should be removed. If the leaders of Palestine believe that the settlement policy is an obstacle to peace, the leaders of Israel must refrain from such activities in order to give peace a chance.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Both Palestine, as the home of the Palestinian people, and Israel, as the home of the Jewish people, must guarantee that all ethnic and religious groups have full rights and protection under law. Let me also make one point very clear. To refuse the right of Israel to exist means to refuse the right of the Palestinian people to have a State of their own. I can accept criticism of the policies of any Government but I 11-51197 20 cannot stand idly by when the right of existence is denied to anyone, no matter what their religion or ethnicity is. To dismiss the importance of such policies would mean to fail the very values of our civilization. Bulgaria will never accept that, nor should any other nation in the global community.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Slowly but surely the region is moving towards democracy. Democracy, accountable government and the rule of law are ultimately in the long-term interests of all, Jews and Muslims, Arabs and Israelis. The Palestinian people have a right to a State of their own. Indeed we, the international community, have an obligation to support the establishment of a viable and democratic Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza: a Palestine that lives side-by-side with the State of Israel, a Palestine that lives in security and mutual recognition with the State of Israel, a Palestine that has secure borders based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed land swaps.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is why we cannot remain uninterested in developments in the Middle East, particularly with regard to the elusive prospects for peace between the people of Israel and the people of Palestine. Over the course of the past year, we have seen the tireless efforts of the United States Administration and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mrs. Catherine Ashton, trying to find a way to resume direct negotiations. Those efforts, including the agreed Quartet statement of today, need to be applauded, encouraged and supported by all. It was in the United Nations in 1947 that the State of Israel was born. It was born as a home for the Jewish people, a beacon of hope for a community that had been persecuted and oppressed for thousands of years. Today, the landscape is changing.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Our history teaches us that nations are strong when their civic spirit is strong. It teaches us that you must find pride not only in great historic battles and ancient legends but in great feats of civic activism, in standing up for your values and protecting your neighbours. One such inspiring example is the fact that the Jews of Bulgaria survived the Second World War because hundreds of religious and community leaders, politicians, ordinary men and women, stood up and refused to be part of Hitler’s madness. My country today is the product of the traditions of Christians, Jews and Muslims, who all form the fabric of the Bulgarian nation. That is our richness and makes us quite unique in the Balkans.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“That is why we will continue to work tirelessly to remove the obstacles to European Union enlargement in the Balkans, to strengthen regional cooperation and develop good- neighbourly relations in a region that has seen too much division and violence. With particular vigour, we will continue to encourage the European Union-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Bulgaria welcomes the pragmatic approach taken by both Kosovo and Serbia during their first meetings. It is important that they build on this momentum and continue to engage in a constructive and pragmatic manner. All must show restraint and prevent the build-up of tension. That is vital for the security, prosperity and, ultimately, the European perspective of the region. Bulgaria is a country that has a proud and turbulent history.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“No matter how successful we are individually we cannot truly enjoy the fruits of our own development if we live in an insecure environment. Regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations are vital for the well-being of our countries and our societies. Let me turn briefly to the Balkans. The European Union was created to make war impossible in a continent that has seen at least a century of conflicts. Europe will not be whole and complete until our neighbours in the Balkans are part of our Union. It falls to us to say it loud and clear: to make war impossible in the Balkans we must see all countries that have emerged from the former Yugoslavia as part of the European Union. That is our historic mission. It is our destiny.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Bulgaria stands ready to assist the 19 11-51197 people of Libya in rebuilding their country. Our friendship is strong and has been tested through the years. We know at first hand the brutality that Al-Qadhafi was capable of. The five Bulgarian nurses and a doctor who spent eight years of their lives in a Libyan jail, much of it on death row, are still haunted by their tortures. Let me quote one of them who recently said in an interview, “We died every time the cell door opened.” Now safely back home, they need to be able to close that chapter of their nightmares. Like the nurses, innocent victims of a brutal dictatorship, the Libyan people do want to see justice, not revenge. Such justice will be sought when the dictator and his cronies are brought before a court of law.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Our hearts go out to the people of South Sudan, who have struggled for independence, and we commend the visionary leadership of their Government for paving the way for their independence in a peaceful manner. We also welcomed the new representatives of a free Libya, free from the oppression of the Al-Qadhafi dictatorship. It was at the gates of Benghazi in February that the international community, acting on a mandate of the United Nations Security Council, acted swiftly to prevent a massacre and protect civilians against attacks from their own Government. The people of Libya proved that they could stand up and defend their right to freedom. Our thoughts go out to the families of all those who lost their lives in this struggle and fell victim to the crazed ambitions of a deluded dictator.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“According to the United Nations more than 2,600 people have been killed since March. The Government in Damascus questions those numbers. Even if only one person had been killed, it would have been one person too many. The responsibility for repression lies squarely with the authorities and no one else. I use this opportunity to call on President Al-Assad, who has made many promises to his people and the international community, to come out from the shadows, change the Constitution, dismantle the machinery of repression and immediately call for internationally supervised elections. The people of Syria have the right to elect their own Government and hold it accountable. The time for transition has come. At this session we welcomed the 193rd Member of the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Those who opposed their people are no longer in positions of power, and their countries are moving on and looking to democratic elections. Those who embraced change have initiated far-reaching reforms and responded to the legitimate demands of their people. His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan and His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco should to be commended for their vision and willingness to reform. They have shown the way forward. At the same time, the international community has been appalled by the developments in Syria. Instead of responding to the legitimate demands of the Syrian people for the fulfilment of promised reforms, the Government cracked down violently on protesters. The protesters did not have unrealistic demands. They did not ask for anything out of the ordinary.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Corrupt leadership breeds dissent, and with no democratic process in place, that dissent pours out on to the streets. Young people want to be engaged in the future of their countries, not forced into a world of virtual reality by frowning aging dictators. Millions of people who live on the brink of poverty and see a privileged few reap the benefits of economic freedom will demand fair economic opportunities for all. Add to that the feeling of revival and the demand of millions of young Arabs to be respected, and you have the makings of a revolution of Arab dignity and self-respect, an historic revolution indeed. As change swept across the Middle East and North Africa, some leaders cringed in fear, others embraced it.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Bulgaria also particularly welcomes the High-level Meeting on nuclear safety and security. The effects of nuclear accidents have no respect for national borders. To adequately safeguard our people we must have firm international consensus and action, as well as agreement on stringent international safety standards. Today we stand on the doorstep of historic change in the Middle East, the scale of which can only be compared to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the sweeping transformation of Central and Eastern Europe after the end of communism. Both processes are quite different but share a fundamental similarity — people have come out of the bondage of fear. Although the circumstances in each country are different, the root causes for what is happening in the Middle East are quite similar.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“He has proven himself to be a diligent, hard-working leader who believes strongly in consensus and harmony, qualities that the United Nations needs now in its top administrator and will undoubtedly need even more in years to come. I begin by welcoming the work of delegations at the United Nations High-level Meeting on non-communicable diseases. Cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes are now responsible for more deaths than all other causes combined. Bulgaria welcomes the negotiated final document. More than 80 per cent of cardiovascular and diabetes deaths, almost 90 per cent of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and more than two thirds of all cancer deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Let me begin by praising His Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdelaziz Al-Nasser for his steady stewardship as the President of the sixty-sixth session of the General Assembly. In his work he can count on the constructive engagement of the Bulgarian delegation. Allow me also personally to praise him for the theme he has chosen for this session. I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to his predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss, for his 11-51197 18 outstanding leadership of the previous session’s busy agenda. Last but not least, let me congratulate the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, on his reappointment to the helm of the United Nations.”
2011-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 66 (2011)
“Our commitment to multilateralism can be equalled only by our unfaltering belief that dialogue and diplomacy can achieve more than can confrontation and war. More than half a century ago, the United Nations came together and enshrined those principles as the cornerstones of international law. Since then, with varying degrees of success, we have attempted to live by them. It is time for us to realize that the global challenges of tomorrow can be tackled only by collective action today. Nothing is impossible, 10-55264 36 but only if we work together, discuss, disagree and agree, but share a goal — a peaceful and prosperous world that is safe for all.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Therefore it is imperative that we continue the course of reforms initiated by the 2005 World Summit. We believe that the reform of the Security Council is part of a comprehensive agenda for change at the United Nations. Bulgaria declares itself in favour of an enlargement of the Security Council capable of generating the largest possible consensus. In that context, Bulgaria has endorsed the enlargement of the Council in its two categories — permanent and non permanent members. I started by reiterating our firm commitment to multilateralism. The agenda of the United Nations is broad and diverse, and I have attempted, on behalf of the Government of Bulgaria, to briefly touch on just some of the issues that ought to be discussed in this forum.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“As the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, put it, “Our commitment to the multilateral system of global governance through the UN and other bodies is clear” and we work “with conviction and clarity on the major challenges that face us, be they climate change, poverty, conflict or terrorism”. The transformation of the EU into a legal subject of international relations after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon has to be adequately reflected in a resolution of the General Assembly regarding the representation of the EU at the United Nations. In closing, let me briefly touch on the reform of the United Nations. Bulgaria is convinced that if we are to effectively tackle the challenges of tomorrow, we must continuously adapt and improve the United Nations system.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Bulgaria has increased its input to ISAF, including through more training units, which will work to build the capacity of the Afghan security forces. We continue to support the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan, which, jointly with NATO’s Training Mission, plays an important role. We support the Afghan Government’s peace and reintegration programme, in which the key role should be played by the Afghan State. Our commitment to Afghanistan is based on our firm belief that, if we succeed today, we will all live safer tomorrow. A comprehensive security system can rest only on a robust partnership between the United Nations and regional organizations. This is why Bulgaria believes that the partnership between the European Union and the United Nations is a strategic one.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I would like to strongly support the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura, in Afghanistan. Their efforts should be appreciated and fully supported by the international community. I want to also pay tribute to the brave men and women of all International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) contributing nations, including the roughly 600 Bulgarian troops, who risk their lives to bring security to the people of Afghanistan. Bulgaria’s commitment to the future of Afghanistan is unfaltering, because we understand that it is our joint obligation to bring security to that tortured country, whose people deserve to be able to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that many of us have.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“In Afghanistan, we face a threat that demands the continued military and civilian commitment on the part of the international community, which hinges on two important factors. Firstly, the ability of the Afghan Government to pave the way for reconciliation, tackle corruption and deliver services to its people and the renewed commitment of the international community and regional neighbours to strengthen the Afghan National Security Forces, while maintaining the pressure on radicals and insurgents and limiting their scope of action. In these tasks the coordinated efforts of all, but foremost of the United Nations, NATO and the European Union, are vital.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“I appeal for a prompt finalization of the negotiations to reach a comprehensive convention on counter- terrorism. An old nefarious practice has re-emerged on the high seas — piracy. Bulgaria has been directly affected by the escalating activities and audacity of the pirates 35 10-55264 in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. The fight against piracy leaves much to be desired, however. We need a firm international legal framework for the trial, detention and imprisonment of persons suspected of having committed acts of piracy. We need coordinated actions on the high seas to protect our shipping. Perhaps most of all, we need to address the root causes of piracy — poverty, isolation and lack of opportunity.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The recent efforts by Turkey and Brazil illustrate that there is will in the international community for dialogue. Therefore, a swift return to the negotiation table and full compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, as well as International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards and safeguards is a must. International terrorism is one of the most serious contemporary threats to global peace and security. It cannot be justified by any political, philosophical, ideological, racial or ethnic considerations, nor by any ideology. The end goal of terrorism is to hinder our efforts to guarantee human rights, basic freedoms and democracy. Within the framework of the European Union, Bulgaria has endorsed the implementation of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The uncovering of clandestine nuclear networks has brought the spectre of non State actors equipped with weapons of mass destruction closer. We must not allow this to happen. All nations must recognize that the nuclear non proliferation regime is undermined if violators are allowed to act with impunity. We consider all States parties, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, to be bound by their NPT obligations. Leaving the NPT cannot be without consequences. Justified concerns, however, remain also about the nuclear programme of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We call on Iran to deploy the necessary confidence-building measures to provide for greater transparency on its nuclear activities. Bulgaria believes that it is important to find a diplomatic solution.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We have an obligation to help open up access to Gaza without compromising the security of Israel. History has proven that isolation and deprivation breed radicalism, and it is in the interest of peace that more opportunities be created. Today the world faces other grave security challenges that will shape our tomorrow. We must reconfirm our commitment to halting the spread of nuclear weapons. This mission is above politics, diplomacy, national ambitions and personal egos. It is our universal obligation and a joint commitment that we undertook 40 years ago. Bulgaria believes that every nation must put a strengthened Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the centre of its national diplomacy.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“No one should feel singled out or left behind, because the enemies of peace are many — those who feel that walls are safer than bridges and those who feel that religions cannot coexist. You can take away a man’s life, but you ultimately cannot take away his faith or dignity. This is why I call on all Members of the United Nations to stand firmly behind the efforts of the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to achieve peace. In doing this, we must recognize the legitimate concerns of both sides — Israel’s security and the viability of a Palestinian State. In this effort we should not forget the 1.5 million people who live in Gaza — Palestinians who have the right to a better life, just like the children of Sderot have the right to go to school without the threat of rockets.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Today we must all recognize that hard decisions are called for and lend our full support to President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu to help them walk the hard road to peace. Obstacles should be overcome and preconditions should be removed. If the leaders of Palestine believe that settlement policy is an obstacle to peace, the leaders of Israel must refrain from such activities in order to give peace a chance. If the leaders of Israel believe that no preconditions to a final settlement should be put in place, then the Palestinian leaders must refrain from such actions in order to give peace a chance. The choice today is not between peace negotiations and economic development, because peace and prosperity go hand in hand.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We believe that, just as the Jewish 10-55264 34 people have a homeland in the State of Israel, so the Palestinian people have the right to an independent State of Palestine that lives in peace with its neighbours. During the past months we have all witnessed the efforts of the United States Administration to restart the direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. Many of us have made passionate speeches on the need and urgency of peace. Today, the Palestinian and Israeli leaders face the historic challenge of looking to tomorrow and not being tied down by yesterday. The Middle East cannot afford a failed peace process. The world cannot afford a peace process that does not have a comprehensive end goal in sight.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Bulgaria has seen stellar moments in its history, for example, when civil society rose during the Second World War and refused to allow its Jewish population to be sent to concentration camps, or when it integrated its Turkish population after the end of communism. But, it has also seen its dark moments — when it failed to save the Jewish populations of occupied Northern Greece and Vardar Macedonia, or when the Communist regime expelled a large part of our Muslim citizens to Turkey. Our history has taught us to be able to distinguish between good and bad. Our history proves that the cynics are wrong, that people can live together in peace. That is why Bulgaria cannot remain uninterested in the Middle East.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“But our neighbours also must reaffirm their own commitment to undertaking often very difficult reforms and strengthening regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations. There are cynics who say that the world cannot live together, that for peace to exist we must build walls of separation between peoples, religions and ethnic communities; cynics who say that civilizations must clash. I come from a country that is in a turbulent part of the world, yet we have managed to prove that people of different religions — Christians, Muslims and Jews, and of different ethnicities — Bulgarians, Turks and Armenians, can live together.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“It is a process that the Bulgarian Government is not just willing, but eager to support, and will lend all necessary assistance to the efforts of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security. In Bosnia and Herzegovina the international community faces many challenges, but the struggle between the fears of yesterday and the opportunities of tomorrow can be resolved today by the people of Bosnia themselves. Bulgaria will, more actively than ever, contribute to this reconciliation, because we believe that our role in South-Eastern Europe and beyond is to bring people together, not divide them; to seek solutions, not to watch from the sidelines. We must constantly reaffirm our commitment to bring our neighbours in the Western Balkans into the European Union when they meet the criteria for membership.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“That is why today I am proud to stand here and commend the General Assembly for unanimously adopting resolution 64/298, approving the joint EU Serbia compromise text on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the declaration of independence by Kosovo. Bulgaria supported it wholeheartedly, because we firmly believe that dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is key, both to the stability of the region and to the European perspective of our neighbours. It will be a difficult process, charged with emotion and scarred by history, but it will be a process that can today lay the foundations of a better tomorrow for all.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The European Union was created to make war impossible in a continent that has seen at least a century of conflicts. In Europe, however, we have unfinished business. Europe will not be whole and complete until our neighbours in the Balkans join our Union. It falls on us — those who joined the European Union late, not by their own choice, but because of the ideological divisions of the cold war — to say it loud and clear: to make war impossible in the Balkans we must see all countries that have emerged from the former Yugoslavia become part of the European Union. This is our historic mission. It is our destiny. Bulgaria, which has struggled with its own transition and accession to the European Union, knows the benefits and the challenges best.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“However, I also call on Governments across the globe to help in removing barriers, so as to assist the Pakistani economy in its recovery. Helping today and creating opportunities tomorrow — that should be our goal in a country that is vital to global stability and security. In this, let me assure you that Bulgaria will also shoulder its share of the needed solidarity. Already the Government and the Bulgarian Red Cross have launched a nation-wide campaign to raise funds and contribute to the rebuilding efforts in Pakistan. No matter how successful we are in our development and humanitarian efforts, the benefits cannot fully be borne in an insecure and unstable environment. Allow me to briefly look closer to home — the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“The Bulgarian Government and people were quick to respond by providing financial and in kind assistance, including educational opportunities to young Haitians whose universities had been destroyed. 33 10-55264 This year we have to help in the struggle of the 20 million people in Pakistan who have been affected by the terrible floods that have wrecked lives, ruined crops and destroyed economic opportunities. The Secretary-General and the United Nations were swift to react and deserve praise for their efforts, as does the rapid reaction of the European Union, the United States, India and other partners around the world. Allow me to use this forum to call on all to strengthen their efforts in assisting the people of Pakistan.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Today there can be no excuses — neither in developed countries, nor in developing countries — because any excuse that we find today will cost us more tomorrow. That is why Bulgaria believes that the United Nations must be given the tools to respond adequately to the increasing challenges of environmental protection. Today, much more so than in the past, we see increased demand and pressure on international humanitarian efforts. The devastating earthquake in Haiti last year killed hundreds of thousands and left a staggering 20 per cent of the population homeless. Haiti’s call was, however, heeded throughout the globe. Allow me to praise the work of the United Nations and its agencies in responding quickly, but also pay tribute to all of the countries, non governmental organizations and individuals who came quickly to Haiti’s assistance.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“To be effective, we shall work in close coordination with our partners, avoid duplication and aim at addressing the root causes — not the symptoms — of today’s problems. Otherwise, we will not be building a better tomorrow. In this effort the role of the United Nations will always remain vitally important, particularly in helping to mitigate the development impact of the crisis on the less developed and most vulnerable countries. As dangerous as the current global crisis is, it also gives us a chance to green our economies, particularly by putting them on a sustainable and low-carbon path. This year, 2010, has been proclaimed as the International Year of Biodiversity. Economic growth and the preservation of the environment must go hand-in-hand across the globe.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Let me begin by welcoming the results of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Regardless of the fact that efforts to achieve the MDGs have not stayed on course, their attainment is still within our reach. Reaffirming the principle of solidarity between those who have and those who need is of the essence. My country faces challenges imposed by the global economic and financial crisis. We have, however, committed ourselves to develop our own donor capacity, and so we shall. We shall do so, because Bulgaria — like a number of countries that have joined the European Union (EU) since the fall of the Berlin Wall — understands that the solidarity that was extended to us now needs to be extended by us to those less fortunate.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“We may also, perhaps, address the most paramount challenge of our time: to prove wrong all those who believe that the world is heading towards an irreversible clash of civilizations — because none of the global challenges that we face today can be understood, tackled or addressed without respect for different opinions, without dialogue between faiths and without adherence to the global values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. On behalf of the Government of Bulgaria, I congratulate Mr. Deiss on the assumption of the presidency of this Assembly at this sixty-fifth session. Our appreciation also goes to Mr. Ali Treki for his leadership during the previous session, and to Mr. Ban Ki-moon for his efforts to strengthen and promote the United Nations.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Today, our world faces a complicated web of challenges, but also of opportunities. We face the challenge of addressing global climate change by creating opportunities for sustainable development. We face the challenge of reducing the conflicts and opportunities that come from providing sufficient clean water to millions of people. We face the challenge of developing an ethical market economy and the countless opportunities that will emerge from reducing the poverty gap. We face the challenge of reducing ethnic conflicts, terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction and the opportunities that come from good governance, democracy and freedom.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)
“Every year we come together in this great Hall of the United Nations, to 10-55264 32 reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism. Nations big and small, rich and poor, gather from the four corners of the world here at the United Nations, driven by the conviction that, if we work together, we will find solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow. As these challenges grow and become more interconnected, so grows our conviction that only through cooperation and dialogue can we resolve them. This is the fundamental belief with which, for 55 years, the Bulgarian delegation, like many others, has come to the United Nations. Like every day, today will be unique, because our actions on this day will forge our tomorrows. We can spend our time dwelling on the past, or we can invest our time in the future that we will all face together.”
2010-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 65 (2010)