Today, the world needs not only more dialogue, but also more trust, more responsibility and more capacity to act together. Multilateralism has meaning only if it leads to decisions and if decisions lead to action and results.
The human being must be at the heart of this common response: his life, his dignity, his rights and his opportunities. This requires an international order based on the Charter of the United Nations and international law, and a United Nations that not only formulates principles, but has the power and the capacity to uphold them. An organization that defends multilateralism, and that means a world order of rules by all and for all, for small and large countries alike, without double standards.
Bulgaria will continue to be a steadfast defender of this order and of a strong, effective and active United Nations.
Today, the United Nations must prove not only its ability to bring States together, but also its ability to act – through joint efforts, it is our duty to transform the world from one of disorder into one of international law and lasting peace. The Pact for the Future provides important guidance, but it must be supported by real reform. The Security Council must reflect today’s world, with fairer regional representation and increased legitimacy and effectiveness. Bulgaria supports its enlargement in both categories of membership, including with at least one additional non-permanent seat for the Group of Eastern European States.
The UN80 initiative is an opportunity to make the Organization more effective, better coordinated and better able to fulfil its mandates. But reform without resources is not possible. Predictable and sustainable financing is necessary for the United Nations to be able to discharge the responsibilities entrusted to it by States.
The upcoming election of a new Secretary-General will also be a choice for the direction of the Organization. We thank António Guterres for his dedication in the service of the United Nations. We expect his successor to have the vision, the courage and the leadership needed to restore trust, overcome divisions and act for change.
Your Excellencies, Peace and security are among the principal responsibilities of the international community. Faced with conflicts that have claimed the lives of thousands of people and caused enormous destruction, we must redouble our efforts to prevent and end hostilities.
The main challenge remains the war against Ukraine, the consequences of which extend far beyond the immediate combat zone.
Is it not time to rethink European security policy? Bulgaria, as a member state of the European Union, is raising its voice and proposing that we also have a debate on this subject and on the broader goal of the future of post-war Europe. And to begin the debate, it is high time to transfer the conflict from the military sphere to the political and diplomatic domain. This is about negotiations, which require dialogue and at least a minimum of trust, underpinned by appropriate guarantees. The fate of Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. But Europe cannot be a mere observer; it must be a real participant in the negotiations on the post-war security architecture on the continent after the end of the war. Europe must be in a position to guarantee its own security. Military security should be complemented by the second pillar of security, the contractual-legal pillar, which should guarantee that strengthening defence potential brings more security rather than a new arms race. For Europe’s security, we must add strong diplomacy to military and economic security.
It would be irresponsible if, after the end of the war in Ukraine, we were unable to offer European citizens anything better than a new and worse Cold War. We need a vision for the day after according to the formula “a Europe of peace through deterrent defence and shared security”. From this highest platform, we make an appeal to guide us on the path towards this goal!
Bulgaria considers that the security and stability of the Black Sea region are an integral part of its national security in all its dimensions. The war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine has spilled out of the territorial waters of the parties to the conflict, which directly affects Bulgaria today. However, the problem of the Black Sea has shifted from regional to global because, with the regional negative consequences combined with the war in Iran and the aridity of the Danube, it is leading to a food crisis in the world, mainly in the Middle East and Africa. The inability to export grain and fertilizers poses a real risk of famine this winter in a number of countries in those regions and of jeopardizing the 2027 harvest.
Bulgaria cannot and does not want to remain indifferent and, applying the practical diplomacy approach, is preparing an initiative for which it will strive, together with the countries of the region and all interested parties, to reach an agreement and common action in order to ensure the freedom/security of navigation in the Black Sea. We are convinced that this issue deserves the attention of the United Nations.
Bulgaria therefore calls for the Black Sea to be transformed from an area of increased risk and threat into an area of “shared security” — an area of security, an area of free transport, energy, trade, digital corridors, tourism, an area where different cultures, religions and political systems meet in peace.
The Middle East also needs political solutions and de-escalation.
A new cycle of destruction, humanitarian crisis and violence cannot be permitted in Gaza. It is necessary to create the conditions for stabilization and reconstruction, for credible security guarantees for Israel and for effective Palestinian governance. Bulgaria condemns the terrorist actions of Hamas and insists on its complete and unconditional disarmament. The organization has no place in the governance of Gaza. We remain convinced that the only durable solution is for two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. This is the only way to give both peoples the prospect of a dignified life and a peaceful future.
Political decisions to achieve stability must also be at the forefront in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
In the context of developments around Iran, the security of global maritime routes and, first and foremost, the route through the Strait of Hormuz have highlighted the global dimensions of this issue. As we have repeatedly stressed publicly in international forums, Bulgaria strongly supports the freedom and security of international maritime transport and insists on full respect for the applicable international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
There are also major challenges in Africa. In the Sudan, the Sahel and the Great Lakes region, political processes, the protection of civilians and the strengthening of State institutions, long-term development efforts and economic opportunities are needed.
Security requires that we limit the risks arising from weapons of mass destruction and their proliferation. Bulgaria remains committed to strengthening the international architecture of non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control and the three pillars of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We support the objective of a world without them, which must be pursued through pragmatic measures: greater transparency, verifiable control and limitation of arsenals.
Global conflicts have introduced new threats hitherto unknown, even threatening nuclear security through irresponsible attacks against nuclear sites and lines vital to their safety support, such as attacks against the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and other Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
On the other hand, compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the essential condition for Iran, which must above all strictly comply with its international obligations and reach a durable nuclear agreement under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
We have repeatedly called for this and it remains valid to this day: The DPRK should cease its nuclear and missile programmes.
Today’s security requires that we act in time. This implies strengthening diplomacy, mediation and political dialogue, but also effective control of arms proliferation and of the military application of new technologies. Artificial intelligence must be developed within the framework of international law and under effective human control, and outer space must remain a space for peaceful and safe use.
The same principle must guide our response to terrorism, radicalization, disinformation and cyberthreats. No country can do this alone. Strong institutions, effective United Nations peacekeeping operations and closer international cooperation are needed. Bulgaria will continue to defend this approach. Lasting security is built not only by responding to crises, but also through our ability to prevent them.
Excellencies, As a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2024-2026, Bulgaria is working for a public environment in which discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech have no place. Freedom of the media, the protection of journalists and access to reliable information constitute an essential element of this environment, particularly in the face of growing disinformation.
This commitment also implies ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate and to be heard. The rights of the child and access to education, the equal participation of women and girls in societal processes and the full inclusion of young people in them are essential to building societies in which everyone is part of the decisions that determine their future.
Bulgaria supports concrete international efforts in this direction, from guaranteeing every child’s right to education to the consistent implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. The protection of human rights is measured not only by the commitments made, but also by the real possibilities for participation, education and a life in dignity.
This is our common goal: societies in which differences do not divide, hatred does not define, and the rights and dignity of every person are protected.
Sustainable development is not an abstract goal. It means enabling people to live in dignity, to receive quality education and health care, to have employment and prospects, and enabling societies to face crises and change without leaving anyone behind. That is why Bulgaria remains committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to accelerating progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Environmental responsibility is one of the fundamental principles of sustainable development. Unfortunately for us, in the context of the war against Ukraine, such a subject is becoming increasingly urgent. The resilience and balance of the marine ecosystems of the Black Sea are threatened by the harmful consequences of the military conflict. Bulgaria strongly urges political engagement and compliance with General Assembly resolution 77/104, adopted on 7 December 2022, on the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts.
For Bulgaria, investment in education, science and culture is an investment in the long-term viability of societies. They not only preserve knowledge and identity, but also give people the ability to adapt and create. Bulgaria will continue to honour this commitment also at the international level. Our election as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO for the period 2026-2030 is an opportunity to make this commitment an even more active contribution.
Sustainability means being prepared for the changes that are already under way. The climate is changing, health crises can affect the whole world, and new technologies are changing the way we work and live. We cannot stop change, but we must manage it so that it works for people. This means a just green transition, better global connectivity, and preparedness for a common response to health crises. The assistance of artificial intelligence will be indispensable if it develops our capacities without undermining security and trust. Bulgaria will continue to contribute to the international dialogue on this subject, including by participating in the preparation of the second global dialogue on AI governance in 2027.
Excellencies, All these efforts lead to a common goal, to a world in which peace, security, human rights and development are mutually reinforcing and complementary, and where international law protects human dignity.
Let us ensure that the United Nations is not only a forum for discussing crises, but a driver of their prevention and peaceful settlement.
Because the future does not necessarily belong to the strongest, it will belong to those who succeed in building trust.
There is no greater responsibility to our peoples than to deliver to future generations a world in which cooperation is stronger than confrontation, dialogue stronger than hate speech, and peace stronger than war. And Bulgaria is ready to contribute to this not only as a consumer of security, but also as a producer of security.