Bulgarian PM: Arab Countries Can Learn from Our Experience

Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, delivers the keynote address at the Sofia conference, held under the motto "Transition Period in Central and Eastern Europe and Changes in the Middle East." Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's capital Sofia is the host of a two-day conference on the experiences of Central and Eastern Europe since 1989 and on recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East.

The conference, titled "Transition Period in Central and Eastern Europe and Changes in the Middle East," is held under the patronage of Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, who delivered the opening speech.

The forum brings together over 150 Bulgarian and foreign (from Europe, Northern Africa and the US) politicians, NGOs, journalists and experts. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is also an official guest, but he is to arrive later during the day, according to a report of the TV channel bTV.

The conference began with a minute of silence for the victims of the civil unrest in Northern Africa and the Middle East.

"The developments in Northern Africa and the Middle East in the last months clearly show that strive for freedom, dignified live and justice is universal and knows no limits," Bulgarian Prime Minister said during his address.

Borisov further spoke about the importance of a timely and quality judicial reform as one of the biggest lessons learned during the transition period, and advised the country's "Arab friends" to not delay theirs in order to not be humiliated like Bulgaria, which 22 years after the fall of the Communist regime, continues to be the subject of monitoring and control by the European Union.

"We are all aware the EU cannot remain an oasis of democracy, peace and well-being if events in Northern Africa develop difficultly and dramatically. We are deeply convinced Europe cannot simply wait without doing a thing, but must fully commit to the support of democratic processes in our southern neighbors," the PM pointed out, adding for many years the international community lived with the idea Arab countries simply cannot have democratic governments, but the latest events have shown this idea was unfounded.

Borisov stressed European help must be adequate, saying the forum in Sofia will contribute to show what is expected from the old continent because it will be a tribune for representatives of Arab countries.

According to the PM, Bulgaria's position is for detailed review and thoughtful reconsidering of EU policies in the region.

"The new policies must be based on three principles – individual approach towards each separate country; assistance in compliance with human rights, and the rule of law," Borisov explained.

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