President: NATO must show internal solidarity
NATO has to show internal solidarity and responsibility for security issues wherever problems emerge, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in Sofia on Monday after meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev.
"There is no doubt that NATO has to show internal cohesion, ... internal solidarity and responsibility for issues of security wherever a security problem emerges. Unfortunately (a problem) has been visible in our part of the world in recent years and NATO's response regarding such matters should always be unambiguous", the Polish president continued.
Andrzej Duda said that Poland and Bulgaria have "common goals and share the same point of view" regarding security issues adding that he and the Bulgarian president are in no doubt that NATO's eastern flank needs strengthening. "It is a question of our security, security in the Balkans as well as of the Baltic states."
Asked about the Wednesday-planned meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at ambassadorial level, President Duda stressed that one should not pursue a policy of isolation towards Russia. "One should conduct a dialogue with Russia. It is good that NATO-Russia talks are being held, but in their course we should show our character. The Alliance should show its principled approach towards the observance of international law, security, peace and order in the world."
Commenting on the recent military incident in the Baltic Sea, involving Russian warplanes, Duda said it clearly showed that Russia was testing the Alliance's strength. According to the Polish president, NATO's response should be unambiguous - the strengthening of potential, raising the size of the Alliance's force, and the development of defence infrastructure in this part of the world.
President Duda also stressed the common stand on cooperation in the ABC (Adriatic, Baltic, and Black sea) format - development of road, rail and energy infrastructure.
The talks also focused on the migration crisis in Europe. The president said Poland is of the opinion that mandatory relocation of refugees is something that should not take place in Europe, "but at the same time we are open and anyone who is a genuine refugee and needs help" will receive such help in Poland. However, he stressed that there is no consent for mandatory relocation of people.
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev highly assessed Poland's initiative to preserve the Visegrad Group Plus, V4 countries - Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia and, among others, Bulgaria. He expressed gratitude for Poland's backing of Bulgaria's efforts to join the Schengen area.
President Plevneliev assured of Bulgaria's support for Poland's postulates for the July NATO summit.
While in Sofia, the Polish president also met with Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov and with Speaker of Bulgarian Parliament Tsetska Tsacheva.
Source: president.pl; PAP