Brussels, 25 June (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) -
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, who attended a two-day European
 Council meeting in Brussels, told Bulgarian journalists here on
 Friday that he supports a proposal by France and Germany for a
summit between the EU and Russia. "I strongly supported and
welcomed this initiative to update the strategy on EU-Russia
relations," he noted.

"This is not just about the attitude towards Russia but about
the level of our ambitions about the global role of our Union.
Will we be a global factor or a bystander in the global scene,
where global players like the US, China and Russia compete? I
reminded all leaders that we all signed the Rome Declaration in
2017, which clearly implies that Europe must be a strategic
factor on the global scene," the President pointed out.

"Geopolitics requires realism. The seven years of sanctions
[against Russia] have not produced the desired results. We need
to seek new tools to pursue our relations with Russia, and
especially de-escalate [the tensions]. We share a common
European space with Russia, in terms of climate, health and
security. We both merely stand to lose from confrontation,'' the
 head of State said further.

"The initiative launched by Chancellor Merkel and President
Macron is a proposal that makes sense. Although it was not
included in the final communique because of the apprehensions of
 some Member States, this form of dialogue will find a way to be
 implemented sooner or later," Radev predicted.

Hungary's LGBT+ Law

He also commented on discussions in the European Council
regarding a controversial Hungarian law on the LGBT+ community.
The legislation was originally meant to toughen punishments for
child abuse but, according to critics, its final amendments
conflate paedophilia with homosexuality, banning the ''promotion
 of homosexuality" to under 18-year olds.

"Some rather emotional statements were made, but nothing
dramatic happened. The rumours that because of this law Hungary
will be expelled from the EU or will leave on its own are
greatly exaggerated. This cannot possibly happen," Radev told
Bulgarian journalists in Brussels.

"Condemning Hungary will not solve the problem. European values,
 such as freedom, tolerance and human dignity, were mentioned
time and again during the debate. I insisted that we should be
careful about how these terms are defined and the way they are
used and not employ them as cliches in this dialogue. Yes, the
right to self-determination is a fundamental value and it must
be upheld, but nobody has the right to impose their values,
ideas and worldview on others," Radev said. NV/DT/LG