Slavic Vasilyevvice-president of the progressive parliamentary group Bulgariadefended Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova against criticism of her foreign policy positions, saying she was the first Bulgarian foreign minister in recent decades to so strongly defend the country’s interests.
In a Facebook post, Vasilyev responded to comments from analysts and observers who accused Petrova to be distant and affirmed that her positions do not always correspond to those of Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
Therefore VasilyevSuch criticism reflects a misunderstanding of the complexity of foreign policy and the challenges it faces. Bulgaria as a member of both the European Union and NATO.
“Such a view is erroneous and shows a misunderstanding of the delicate issue and the specifics of foreign policy,” he added. he wrote, asserting that Bulgaria now pursues a more independent foreign policy than in previous years.
Vasilyev stated that, since joining NATO and the EU, Bulgaria had rarely acted independently in international affairs and had often followed the positions of its allies without developing its own approach.
“We have always been satisfied to hang on to the locomotive and go wherever it takes us,” he said, adding that this approach had weakened the country’s ability to act as an independent state.
He argued that BulgariaThe country’s current position requires balancing two important realities: the expectations and responsibilities that come with joining Western alliances, and the country’s own understanding of its national interest.
Therefore Vasilyev, Petrova faces the difficult task of combining Bulgariawith the commitments of the allies while maintaining dialogue with all parties.
“For the first time since the Second World War, the current Foreign Minister has the extremely difficult task of combining the national interest with Allied demands and keeping the doors open. All the doors”, he wrote.
He described this as the type of foreign policy expected of a country that is not part of the G7 but nevertheless wants to play an active international role.
Vasilyev also criticized what he described as BulgariaThe country’s previous reliance on the positions of stronger partners, saying this should not be confused with effective diplomacy.
“The other thing we are accustomed to is called servility,” he said.
According to him, the current government and Petrova helped to place Bulgaria among the countries whose opinions are taken into account at the international level.
“The Bulgarian government and minister Petrova put on for the first time Bulgaria on the map of countries that have one vote. And this voice is heard. Everywhere,” Vasilyev wrote.
He also rejected claims that the prime minister should justify alleged mistakes made by the foreign minister, saying such criticism overlooks the realities of international relations.
Vasilyev argued that foreign policy requires striking a balance between a country’s own positions and the expectations of allies, particularly when these positions do not always completely coincide.
“Trust me. Bulgaria has never been stronger in terms of foreign policy. And this is just the beginning. » he wrote.
Concluding his defense of Petrova, Vasilyev reiterated his support for the Foreign Minister, saying she represents a new approach to protection Bulgariaforeign interests.
“As for the minister Petrovashe is the first Bulgarian Foreign Minister to fight so valiantly for Bulgaria. Trust me,” he said.
Source: Novinite
