Denkov in CNBC Interview: Ukraine Fighting for Europe; Europe Strong When United

Sofia, 18 ian. /BTA/. In a CNBC interview from Davos where he is participating in the discussions during the World Economic Forum, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said that Ukraine is fighting for Europe rather than just for its own territory, and argued that the strength of Europe is when it is united. 

Denkov said: "It is true that Ukraine is not fighting only for their territory, for their country, but also for Europe. I have participated in several European Councils where this discussion was put on the table and I think maybe with one or two countries as exceptions, all of the others understand the importance of support for Ukraine. I am cautiously optimistic that at the next Council we will have a positive decision [for backing Ukraine].

Asked what his message is for Viktor Orban, whose country is apparently "an exception", Denkov said that Europe needs to stand as one to be strong. "I think the strength of Europe is when it is united. It is a great economic power, it is a great society that cares for the people – that it why it is so attractive. If we start to fragment ourselves on important issues – and this is an important issue, then Europe will lose its strength and attractiveness very very rapidly. He [Orban] should be part of the solution and not of the problem."

As for how can Europe persuade Viktor Orban to back common measures on Ukraine, Denkov said  that "the logical arguments are the most important ones". "So, the first logical argument is that this war should stop as soon as possible but with a peace that is sustainable. We don’t need any type of peace but one that is just, that is fair and correspondents to the international order, and that’s why it can be sustainable. The second one is that when Hungary is isolated in this process, of course it will create problems for Hungary – not only for Europe. So I think it is for the benefit of the countries that are on the eastern flank to be together in this."

Denkov also spoke about the efforts of his Government to step up cooperation in the Balkans. "We see the Balkan region as having great opportunities that are not used yet because of these fragmentations and divisions here and there. That is why we started actively with Greece and Romania to put together plans for very significant infrastructural development to make the region to be together economically. But also this is part of our attempts to strengthen the eastern part of Europe, the southeast, but also the eastern flank of NATO, to show that when we are together we are strong."