Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the prime minister for his invitation to come here. Yesterday we had a very important meeting. It is important that the prime minister of Serbia was also with us, and what I have seen here just now has confirmed the view that I formed last night.
To put it briefly, my view is that everyone needs to understand that Europe’s future will not be decided in Brussels, but here, where we are standing now. Therefore the success of Bulgaria’s defence efforts is in everyone’s best interest. Your prime minister and his government have done tremendous work on this, and it has earned our highest respect. At the same time, it draws attention to how little Europe concerns itself with Bulgaria. If it is true that Europe’s future will be decided here, then Bulgaria needs help. The Visegrád Four have agreed to assist Bulgaria, and at the summit in Bratislava on Friday they will propose to the European Union that it, too, should help your country. Bulgaria must not be left to fend for itself in this, and it is not fair that Bulgaria alone should bear the burden of protecting its borders, as this country is not only protecting itself, but us at the same time. This is a very simple truth which everyone must recognise – and I sincerely hope that they will.