Let me congratulate Mr. Sam
Kutesa of Uganda on his assumption of the presidency
of the General Assembly at its sixty-ninth session. I
also extend my warmest gratitude to Mr. John Ashe for
his work as President of the sixty-eighth session.
Over the past few months, Bulgaria and the Balkans
have suffered unprecedented floods. Thousands of
people lost their homes, crops were ruined and many
innocent people died. The heavy storms were no
longer news but a part of daily life. Nature once again
reminded us that today, political statements alone were
not sufficient. For the sake of our children and our
planet, it is time to act. As a wise man once said, we did
not inherit the Earth from our fathers; we borrowed it
from our children. Climate change needs to be urgently
addressed. I would like to thank Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon for having organized the Climate Summit.
Bulgaria will actively support the completion of the
negotiations on the new, universal and legally binding
climate agreement in 2015.
Bulgaria contributed to the implementation of the
Millennium Development Goals and the development
of the post-2015 development agenda through its
successful participation in the Open Working Group
on Sustainable Development Goals. The Group has
fulfilled its mandate. The Group’s report, together
with the report of High-level Panel of Eminent Persons
on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (A/67/890,
annex), will be the leading documents for our future
discussions as we enter the critical phase of the debate
on the post-2015 development agenda. It is crucial
that all sides stay engaged and committed to the final
goal — an ambitious and forward-looking framework.
No real transformative post-2015 development agenda
will be possible unless we address the loopholes of the
current Millennium Development Goals and build upon
the lessons learned. The new framework should be
founded on the principles of respect for human rights,
inclusiveness, good governance and the rule of law.
Youth-specific targets in the areas of education, health
care and employment are of paramount importance as
well.
Development is unthinkable without peace and
security. The illegal annexation of Crimea by the
Russian Federation and the conflict in eastern Ukraine
have become one of the most serious threats to peace
and security in Europe since the Second World War. The
security environment in the Black Sea region has been
seriously affected. The illegal annexation of Crimea
undermines the international order. After the Second
World War, we built our world on the clear principles
embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. They
were shattered to pieces in a matter of weeks. Bulgaria
strongly supports the sovereignty, unity and territorial
integrity of Ukraine. My country does not recognize
the illegal referendum in Crimea and condemns the
annexation by Russia as a violation of international law.
Bulgaria joined the numerous sponsors of resolution
68/262 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
My country welcomes the ceasefire agreement and
is looking forward to the implementation of the peace
plan. Bulgaria commends all international efforts for
the peaceful resolution of the conflict. We welcome the
strong engagement of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
and the initiatives of the European Union and the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
as well as the efforts of the trilateral contact group.
Russia should stop arming and supporting separatists
in Ukraine.
In a few days, Ukrainians will vote for a new
parliament. They have every right to choose their
own future. I sincerely hope that those elections will
be a major step forward in building a democratic and
prosperous Ukraine. The signing and ratification of the
European Union Association Agreements of Ukraine,
Moldova and Georgia represent an important milestone
in the process of the European integration of those
countries. The positive change witnessed today in
the Balkans would not have been possible without the
engine of the European integration.
The escalation of violence and the humanitarian
situation in Syria continue to be a source of grave
concern. Millions of refugees have fled their homeland
in pursuit of peace in the neighbouring countries.
Hundreds of thousands have lost their lives. More than
10,000 refugees have sought asylum in Bulgaria. A
lasting solution to the conflict in Syria can be achieved
only through an inclusive political process. We call on
the Security Council to unite. The unity of the Security
Council is crucial in order for the conflict to be resolved.
The Syrian crisis, along with the outbreak of
violence and sectarian tensions in Iraq, has exacerbated
the security and humanitarian situation in the entire
Middle East region. Bulgaria strongly condemns the
armed attacks and killings perpetrated by the Islamic
State terrorist organization against religious and ethnic
minorities and denounces the brutal execution of
innocent people. Bulgaria is an integral part of the broad
international coalition against terrorism. A member of
the European Union and of NATO, my country lends its
political support, as well as humanitarian and material
aid, within the scope of its possibilities. We welcome
the adoption of Security Council resolution 2178 (2014)
on foreign terrorist fighters.
Combating radicalization, supporting State-building
in Iraq and cooperating with regional partners are
essential. We welcome the election of Mr. Haider Al
Abadi as Prime Minister of Iraq. We hope that, under
his leadership, a Government of broad representation
will be established in order to preserve the territorial
integrity and sovereignty of the country.
Bulgaria greatly values the role of the United Nations
in Iraq and appreciates the contribution of Mr. Nickolay
Mladenov, former Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Special
Representative of the Secretary-General and Head
of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq.
We stand for a just and lasting settlement of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-State
solution formula. That is possible only through direct
negotiations with no preconditions and in conformity
with the relevant international obligations. Any durable
ceasefire should address both Israeli security concerns
and Palestinian demands to abolish the Gaza closure
regime.
The adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty was a major
achievement of the international community. Just over a
year later, the threshold of 50 ratifications was reached
this morning. I am glad that my country is among
those 50 States that have made the entry into force of
that important legal instrument a reality. The Arms
Trade Treaty fills a serious gap in international law.
It establishes regulations for the trade in conventional
arms at the global level. Now its implementation and
universalization are of the utmost importance.
Twenty-five years ago, the Berlin Wall fell and the
democratic transitions in Central and Eastern Europe
began. My country Bulgaria chose to become a modern
European democracy. We put our country back on the
path of freedom, independence, the rule of law and
respect for human rights. Our society has proved its
firm commitment to democratic values and principles.
We have witnessed similar political changes across
South-East Europe. The Balkan countries have become
partners, sharing the same values and projects for the
future. We have built bridges of trust, friendship and
mutual respect. We are working together to improve
links and competition in order to increase prosperity
in the Balkans.
Human rights, democracy and the rule of law
are at the heart of my country’s foreign policy.
Bulgaria’s commitment to advancing the human rights
agenda throughout the United Nations system was
further strengthened under the successful Bulgarian
chairmanship of the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural
Committee during the sixty-eighth session of the
General Assembly. Bulgaria is determined to further
contribute to promoting and upholding human rights
internationally as a member of the Human Rights
Council for the period 2019-2021, and will rely on its
partners’ valuable support of its candidature.
My country welcomes the appointment of
Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Husein of Jordan as the
new United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights — an excellent choice by the Secretary-General.
We wish Prince Zeid all success in fulfilling his
mandate.
We support the Secretary-General’s Rights Up
Front Action Plan to safeguard human rights around
the world. Bulgaria commends Deputy Secretary-
General Jan Eliasson for his insightful vision and
global leadership with regard to that initiative and his
valuable contribution to advancing the human rights
agenda throughout the United Nations.
Bulgaria is concerned about the anti-Semitic attacks
that have taken place recently, especially in Europe.
As a country that saved 48,000 Bulgarian Jews from
deportation during the Second World War, Bulgaria
strongly condemns the recurring trend of brutal and
disgusting manifestations of anti-Semitism.
This year, the international community is
celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which
set a universal standard for the effective promotion of
children’s rights. Bulgaria commends UNICEF for its
enormous contribution during that time to improving
children’s lives and advancing the child agenda around
the world. As a member of the Bureau of the UNICEF
Executive Board this year, my country supports
and actively participates in all efforts aimed at child
protection and achieving results for children.
My country is convinced that the United Nations
reform process should continue in order to enhance
the efficiency, representativeness and transparency of
the entire system, and to make it more adequate and
responsive to the new realities. As a member of the
Eastern European regional group, Bulgaria reiterates its
position in favour of allocating at least one additional
non-permanent seat to the Group in an enlarged Security
Council. Bulgaria aspires to serve as a non-permanent
member of the Security Council for the 2018-2019 term.
At the end of 2016, the second term of office of
the current and highly respected Secretary-General,
Mr. Ban Ki-moon, will come to an end. My country
greatly values his outstanding leadership and
commitment. Bulgaria expects that, when the time
comes, the States Members of the United Nations will
be able to elect a worthy successor. To that end I would
like to recall the relevant General Assembly resolution,
which states that,
“[i]n the course of the identification and
appointment of the best candidate for the post of
Secretary-General, due regard shall continue to be
given to regional rotation and shall also be given
to gender equality” (resolution 51/241, annex, para.
59).
Bulgaria is convinced that the time has finally come
for the East European regional group to be represented
at the helm of the United Nations.