Bulgarian Prez urges global perspective on peace at Sofia security forum

IANS April 5, 2025 225 views

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev emphasized the critical need for a comprehensive global approach to peace and security during an international forum in Sofia. Speaking at the Aqaba Process meeting, he warned against the dangerous illusion of regional isolation in addressing complex geopolitical challenges. Radev specifically critiqued previous strategies in the Ukraine conflict, suggesting that military support alone cannot guarantee lasting peace. The event, involving nearly 30 delegations, underscored the interconnected nature of contemporary global security threats.

"The great challenge... is to free itself from the self-deception that peace can be guaranteed only for a given country" - Rumen Radev
Sofia, April 5: World leaders should adopt a broader perspective when devising strategies to safeguard peace in their own countries and region, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said in a doorstep statement ahead of an international meeting in Sofia.

Key Points

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Bulgarian President advocates broader international security perspective

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Aqaba Process forum highlights regional peace challenges

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Radev criticizes isolated approach to military conflicts

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Nearly 30 delegations discuss Balkan security issues

"The great challenge not only for the Balkans and Europe but also for the world today is to free itself from the self-deception that it is possible for peace and security to be guaranteed only for a given country and region or at the expense of someone else," Radev said on Friday.

The one-day event, known as the "Aqaba Process for the Balkans," was organised under the auspices of the Aqaba Process Initiative, which is co-chaired by the Republic of Bulgaria and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Launched in 2015 by Jordan's King Abdullah II, the initiative addresses pressing issues related to terrorism, illegal migration, and radicalisation, reports Xinhua news agency.

Friday's event in Sofia marks the third edition of the high-level forum with a focus on the Balkan region, according to the Press Secretariat of the president.

In today's world, when security is challenged on a daily basis, it is especially important for state leaders to exchange views and seek joint solutions, Radev said, calling for the voices of more leaders and experts to be heard and their opinions and suggestions to be respected.

He went on to suggest that had this approach been followed earlier, Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive - a move he described as "fatal" - might have been avoided. Many European leaders, he argued, had clung to a naive belief that military support alone would enable Ukraine to achieve significant military successes and negotiate (a peace deal with Russia) from a position of strength, Radev said.

"The lessons of history are often forgotten, that in times of global conflicts there cannot be isolated islands of peace and tranquillity," Radev said.

He also noted that security is a key issue in the Balkans because countries here are directly affected by the consequences of nearby military conflicts. He highlighted human trafficking, illegal migration, terrorism and radicalisation as some of the most devastating consequences.

Nearly 30 delegations took part in the meeting, including heads of state, government officials, representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and heads of diplomatic missions in Bulgaria.

Reader Comments

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Maria K.
President Radev makes an excellent point about global interdependence. We can't pretend conflicts in one region don't affect others. The Balkan perspective on this is especially valuable given their history. 👏
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Tomislav P.
While I appreciate the sentiment, I wish there were more concrete proposals here. It's easy to say "we need global cooperation" but much harder to implement. Still, the Aqaba Process seems like a step in the right direction.
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Anastasia V.
As someone from the Balkans, I'm glad our leaders are taking security seriously. The human trafficking and migration issues he mentioned are very real here. More international attention is needed!
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Dimitar S.
Interesting comments about Ukraine. While I don't fully agree with his assessment, it's refreshing to hear different perspectives on the conflict. We need more dialogue like this forum promotes.
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Elena G.
"No isolated islands of peace" - what a powerful statement! 🌍 This forum sounds exactly like the kind of platform we need more of in today's divided world. Kudos to Bulgaria and Jordan for this initiative.
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Kamen R.
I appreciate that Radev is focusing on non-military security threats too. Terrorism and radicalization don't get enough attention compared to conventional warfare, but they're just as dangerous long-term.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Rumen Radev Bulgaria International Security Balkan Peace Aqaba Process Global Diplomacy
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