President Iliana Iotova addressed the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. The head of state is heading the Bulgarian delegation to the forum.
She called from the UN rostrum for the Black Sea to be transformed from a high-risk area into an area of national and international security – a safe area, a zone of free transport, energy, trade and digital corridors, of tourism, and a place where different cultures, religions and political systems meet in peace. Security and stability in the Black Sea region as an integral part of security in all its dimensions were the main focus of the h’s address.
“The war in Ukraine has moved beyond the territorial waters of the countries involved in the conflict, and this affects Bulgaria directly, here and now. But the problem in the Black Sea has evolved from a regional one into a global one,” Iotova stressed. She said that the regional consequences, together with those of the war in Iran and the low water levels of the Danube River, pose a risk of a food crisis. Iotova also raised the issue of the resilience and balance of the Black Sea’s marine ecosystems, which are facing even greater threats as a result of the war in Ukraine.
She said that Bulgaria is preparing an initiative under which it will seek, together with the countries of the region and all interested States, to reach agreement and take joint action to ensure free and safe navigation in the Black Sea. “We are convinced that this issue deserves the attention of the United Nations,” Iotova stressed.
“There Is No Military Solution For Ukraine”
The President stressed that the war in Ukraine remains a major challenge, with its consequences extending far beyond the immediate area of hostilities. “It is high time we moved the conflict from the military to the political and diplomatic sphere. This means negotiations, which require dialogue and at least a minimum degree of trust, backed by the necessary guarantees,” she said.
“Can we achieve peace in Ukraine? Obviously, we can,” President Iotova said confidently. She reiterated that there is no military solution for Ukraine. “Peace cannot be achieved without the participation of Ukraine and Russia,” Iotova stressed.
Call For a More Active Role For Europe
The head of State stressed that Europe cannot simply be an observer but must be a real participant, with its own proposal for the post-war security architecture of the continent. “Military security should be complemented by a second pillar of security – the legal and treaty-based pillar, which would guarantee that strengthening defence capabilities will bring more security, rather than a new arms race,” Iotova said.
“We need a vision for the day after based on the formula ‘A Europe of peace through deterrence-based defence and shared security’,” she added.
Need For Political Solutions To Conflicts In The Middle East
From the UN rostrum, the President paid tribute to Captain Marin Marinov, who lost his life in the Gaza Strip while carrying out a humanitarian mission.
In this regard, the head of State stressed the need for political solutions to de-escalate conflicts in the Middle East. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has no place in the future governance of the Gaza Strip, President Iotova said, reaffirming her support for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the coexistence of two States.
Bulgaria supports the freedom and safety of international shipping and calls for full compliance with applicable international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, President Iotova said, referring to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war between the United States and Iran.
“Global conflicts have introduced new and previously unknown threats, even jeopardising nuclear security through irresponsible attacks on nuclear facilities,” the Head of State said. She stressed that Bulgaria remains committed to strengthening the international architecture for non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control, as well as to the three pillars of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which should also be applied to Iran, which must fulfil its international obligations.
Iotova expressed confidence that no country can tackle terrorism, radicalisation, disinformation and cyber threats on its own.
Focus on Development And Cooperation
The President said that, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 period, Bulgaria is working towards a social environment in which discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech have no place. “Media freedom, the protection of journalists and access to reliable information are an essential part of this environment, especially amid growing disinformation,” Iliana Iotova said.
The President stressed that artificial intelligence must be developed within the framework of international law and under effective human control, while outer space must remain for peaceful and safe use.
The head of State also highlighted the rights of children and women. “Children’s rights and access to education, the equal participation of women and girls in public life, and the full inclusion of young people in these processes are key to building societies in which everyone is part of the decisions that shape their future,” Iotova said, while stressing that inequalities around the world are becoming deeper.
According to the President of Bulgaria, the world today needs not simply more dialogue, but more trust, more responsibility and a greater capacity to act together. “Multilateral cooperation only makes sense if it leads to decisions, and decisions – to action and results,” the President said.
UN Reform
Iotova stressed the need to reform the Security Council through fairer regional representation and greater legitimacy and effectiveness. She said that Bulgaria supports expanding the Council with both permanent and non-permanent members, including at least one additional non-permanent seat for the Eastern European regional group.
The Security Council must reflect today’s world, with fairer regional representation and greater legitimacy and effectiveness.
Against Double Standards
Iotova spoke out against double standards for “small and large States”. This means a rules-based world order – by all and for all, for small and large States alike, without double standards.
“The future will not necessarily belong to the strongest; it will belong to those who succeed in building trust,” the head of State concluded. “There is no greater responsibility towards our peoples than to pass on to the next 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 as a creator of security,” the President stressed in conclusion.
Bulgarian Head of State Addresses UN General Assembly in New York 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-23 19:10:00
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