CONFERENCE OF SPEAKERS OF THE PARLIAMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 2-3 JULY 2004, THE HAGUE
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SPEECH OF MRS. KAMELIA KASSABOVA
DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

Mr. President,
Honourable colleagues,

Globalization is an objective reality. There is no going back. The economic and political logic dictate our participation in the global world. Europe cannot get off the train of the future.

There is no doubt that globalization stimulates economic growth and increases the world’s wealth. The real problem is how to make use of globalization advantages. Globalization has to lead to the development of a multi-lateral world and to give opportunities to regional development.

Globalization has its ugly face, too. I mean AIDS, TORS, computer crimes, trafficking of people and drugs and last but not least – terrorism. Unfortunately, terrorism is already part of our life. This is the new asymmetric war without borders and rules.

The defense of common values has created a new sense of community. The tragedy in Spain this spring showed that there’s no mercy for Europe. Terrorism became Number 1 on the EU agenda, too.

Bulgaria has made its firm choice – to be united with Europe, sharing the Euro-Atlantic values as a member of NATO. There is no dilemma in this choice because democracy, market economy, human rights and the fight against terrorism are a common cause.

There is no contradiction between the Atlantic orientation and the European interest. The Atlantic values are the values of democratic Europe and vice versa. This blood relation has been proved many times by a number of historic tests. It has its topical dimension in the vitality of NATO and its continuous enlargement to the East.
Enhancing the EU capabilities for conflict prevention, rapid response operations and crisis management is actually deepening the strategic partnership with NATO.

Now, that Bulgaria has successfully completed the accession negotiations, we feel closer to the Union and its agenda. That’s why we cannot accept the division of Europe into “old” and “new”. In the fight against terrorism there is no place for any division and confrontation. We cannot accept the division into “two-speed Europe” either.

The successful European agenda includes more democracy through diversity and solidarity.

More democracy means: increased role of the national parliaments, strict subsidiarity control and broader participation of citizens in the European policy. We all need more security and stability and less ethnic and religious confrontation.

The Bulgarian recipe for stability is called “tolerance”. This will be our contribution to the democratic values of Europe. Tolerance brought about into our modern political language the new word of “togetherness”.

Today there is “togetherness” in Bulgaria among citizens of different religions and origin, of different mentality and cultural heritage. We feel united in our common goals of peace, security and economic prosperity. We feel united in our EU future.

My Bulgarian message to you, dear colleagues, is to build up this sense of “togetherness” in the enlarged Europe, too.

According to Sir Winston Churchill, the great empires of the future will be the empires of the mind. Only having completed this spiritual evolution, Europe will become a triumphant empire of democracy and prosperity. This empire will able to protect our common values, our way of living and civilization.

Thank you for the attention!