First Academic Public Lecture by Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria

UNWE hosted and co-organized jointly with Trud newspaper the first academic public lecture by the Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. At the lecture entitled Bulgaria, the Balkans, Europe and the World attended Prof. D.Sc.(Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of UNWE, Petyo Blaskov, Editor-in-Chief of Trud newspaper, Heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Bulgaria, representatives of state and local authority and business, lecturers, students and journalists.

Prof. Stattev expressed his thankfulness to Boyko Borissov that he had accepted the invitation to deliver a public lecture at the UNWE.

Prof. Stattev (at the tribune). On the right: Boyko Borissov and Petyo Blaskov

Today`s lecture is a continuation of the tradition set up 97 years ago when our university had been established - eminent representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial powers to deliver public lectures, outlined the Rector. He reminded that on 10 October 1920 at the opening of the predecessor of UNWE – the Near East Balkan Institute, its founder and first Rector Prof. Stephan Bobchev had determined as “important specific” of the new university the establishment of “academic relation and mutual acquaintance and study of the Balkan countries”. For almost 100 years our university has developed and enriched the “important specific”. It is confirmed also by the topic of today`s lecture by the Prime Minister, declared Prof. Stattev. 

During the public lecture

The Rector also outlined that the lecture had been a sign of respect to the academic community of UNWE – the largest and the oldest business university in Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe, a leader in the Bulgarian higher education and science which almost a century had prepared the national governmental and business elite. After 1989 lecturers and alumni of UNWE are 6 Prime Ministers, 14 Vice Prime Ministers, 15 Ministers of Finance and 6 Ministers of Foreign Affairs. In the three government offices led by Mr. Borissov more than half of the Ministers have graduated from the UNWE, pointed out Prof. Stattev. 

The Rector Prof. Stattev

 ”I would like to assure you that the large and authoritative academic family of UNWE has the potential and courage to manage with the challenges without compromises regarding the academic valuables and principles, to prepare highly qualified economists, financiers, policy makers, jurists, diplomats, IT specialists, political scientists, sociologists, to assist the government of the country through projects related to the our social and economic development, to work for the interest of Bulgaria and the European Union”, outlined the Rector.

In the beginning of his academic lecture the Prime Minister Borissov extended his condolences to the relatives of victims in the tragic accidents over the last days and greeted Grigor Dimitrov for his victory in the Tennis Tournament in London. 

The Prime Minister Boyko Borissov

I am here mostly because of the lecturers and students, said in the crowded with people Maxima Aula the Prime Minister. We live in an extremely complicated times, outlined Borisov and expressed his concern about the failed negotiations of forming a coalition in Germany that he called “not a good sign for Europe”. The Prime Minister determined as anxious also the relations between the EU and Turkey and pointed out that they “have no interface”. It is better to keep the refugee pressure outside the European Union so I consider that the EU – Turkey Refugee Agreement is the most correct one, outlined the Prime Minister. The peace and negotiations is the best instrument for solving the problems. We have good relations with Turkey and so the refugee pressure on our Southeastern boundary is small, added Borissov. 

Borissov expressed his discontentment with the passive behavior of European leaders in regard of the negotiations for Syria. Europe is the best place for living where all want to go so they must comply with it, pointed out the Prime Minisiter. According to his words the European politicians must have a firm position about the refugees and to look for pragmatical decisions. “About me the EU should not be built through fences inside but should be fenced outside – with all the opportunities we have. At the moment every crisis and shaking up come out because of the refugees”, declared Borissov. 

Europe should pay attention to the Balkans. Some years ago it wasn`t in the agenda of the EU but after Brexit the Balkans can replace the leaving from the European Union United Kingdom, pointed out Borisov. He prognosticated that if the countries from the region had not entered the EU it would provoke a great tension in the future and it would lead to the formation of spheres of influence by other great powers. During the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU we can`t determine a date of joining the European Union for those countries but we can clearly say the young people what is their perspective to prevent them from emigrating, said Borissov. 

Question to the Prime Minister by Kristiyan Madzhurov, Chairman of the Student Council

Borissov answered also the questions of the attendees in the hall. The Prime Minister expressed his hope that in 2018 the meeting "sixteen plus one" between China and Eastern European countries would be in Bulgaria. He also declared that he had been an optimist about the adoption of Bulgaria in the waiting-room of the Eurozone and according to his words the Schengen would be revised and the freedom of crossing the boundaries would also be revised. We have good relations with the Arab countries, China and Iran. If Russia observes the Minsk Protocol the sanctions will become invalid there, pointed out the Prime Minister. The key word is peace and we all should strive for it because there is nothing worse than the war, said Borisov.

The Rector Prof. Stattev presented to attendees the Golden Book of UNWE. He read the message written by Borissov as Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior on 8 April 2005. “For our success! Let`s be safe and sound!” is the new message written in the Golden Book by the Prime Minister.

Prof. Stattev is presenting the Golden Book of UNWE

The Rector awarded to Boyko Borissov a Certifcate of Appreciation in recognition of his academic public lecture entitled Bulgaria, the Balkans, Europe and the World and Commemorative Medal of Stephan Bobchev – Founder and First Rector of UNWE (in the picture below).