UN General Assembly
2009

dignity at the very centre of international politics. Bulgaria considers cooperation in South-East Europe and the Black Sea region to be a priority of its foreign policy. Situated at a particular geographic crossroads, Bulgaria is in a unique position to assess the areas’ pressing issues in their complexity. Together with our partners in the EU and NATO, Bulgaria is proactively cooperating with its immediate neighbours. Bulgaria strongly affirms that regional cooperation is an integral part of European integration of the western Balkans. It contributes to the strengthening of confidence, stability, security and the affirmation of European standards in the region. To this end, Bulgaria is committed to pursuing efforts aimed at combating and preventing the use of hate speech likely to create fears and tensions between groups from different ethnic, national, religious or social backgrounds. We therefore call for full compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms in the western Balkans. In this context, Bulgaria believes that the building of a stable, peaceful, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo, living in peace with its 31 09-52592