Bulgarian PM: Balkans in EU Is My Cherished Dream

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov delivered the keynote address at the international conference "Sofia Forum: the Balkans in the Global World - Encouraging the European Perspective of the Region." Photo by BGNES

My cherished dream is to see all countries on the Balkans as EU members, says Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Borisov spoke Friday at the opening of an international conference "Sofia Forum: the Balkans in the Global World - Encouraging the European Perspective of the Region."

"In our region we passed through all possible routes of negation, through massacres, mass bloodshed, mass graves, financial crises... Everything bad that could happen in our region, happened already," he said.

The PM pointed out that the Balkans have real chance to take a dignified place in Europe, noting Bulgaria is a strong example of ethnic tolerance, fiscal discipline and fight against corruption and organized crime."

"The Yugo embargo gave a significant boost to organized crime in our region. I see nothing better than a European perspective. Pre-accession funds are a great opportunity," Borisov stressed.

The forum is attended by representatives of the EU, ministers, politicians, scientists, writers, representatives of civil society and media from the Balkans, EU member countries, the US, the Middle East and North Africa.

Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov said that for the next few days the forum has three goals - to bring the Balkans back on the European agenda; to find a new generation of politicians to build an efficient network; to hear what the Balkan countries think about what is happening in their region and in the Middle East.

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