Bulgarian President: Better control at EU borders needed but fences will only deepen disunity in Europe
Terrorism is a global threat and the response must also be global, Bulgarian President Rossen Plevneliev said on November 23.
“Against terrorism, everyone must be united – Europe, America, Russia, China, everyone,” Plevneliev told a ceremony at which he conferred promotions on senior military officers.
The “whole arsenal of security measures” should be used against terrorists, Plevneliev said.
“Terrorists can and must be defeated and brought to justice by the global anti-terrorist coalition.” he said, calling for “solidarity and unity in Europe” in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13.
“The security of the people must be guaranteed, but in no case should divisions be permitted along religious, ethnic or other reasons. All of us, Christians, Muslims, Jews and others, must continue to live together and to rally further against extremism.
“We need to improve controls at the external borders of the EU, but the construction of fences within the Union will only deepen disunity in Europe,” Plevneliev said.
“Our weapon is integration, not isolation. Our weapon against terrorism is the ideology of education, tolerance and respect for difference. The answer to the attacks should be more, not less Europe. Bulgaria must show solidarity and within its capabilities, help everyone in need in the European Union. But we expect our European family to stand as one behind us in the event of a crisis in Bulgaria,” he said.
