Distinguished Attendees,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a real pleasure to participate in the 3rd Conference of the Center for Global Dialogue and Cooperation. Center that focuses on finding solutions for topical global challenges. I thank former President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Petar Stoyanov, for the honor given to me.

Distinguished Attendees,

Тhe hall we are gathered together today is dedicated to the ancient Greek mythological hero Hercules. Perhaps our hosts, by choosing this hall, intended to send us a message - that the challenges facing the world today require superhuman effort to be resolved.

I don't know whether superhuman effort is required, but I do know that joint effort of individuals, states, regions is necessary to overcome global crisis. Synergy is, indeed, needed.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Global economic, financial and credit crisis has created huge problems and challenges for all of us, for all our countries. As of 2008, the number of unemployed worldwide has increased several times, even in highly developed countries. Due to the lack of fiscal discipline, many countries are faced with the threat of bankruptcy, including some European Union member-states. Millions in Europe and worldwide have replaced unfounded optimism with bitter pessimism, hope with hopelessness. Meanwhile, global debt clock is, consistently and relentlessly, striking.

Global economic crisis does not go in isolation but along with other regional and global turbulences.

Dissatisfaction, isolation and resentment stemming from the economic crisis have created a fertile ground for intolerance and disrespect for diversity. The Arab Spring happened, as well as the conflicts in North Africa and the Mediterranean. The number of refugees from the armed conflicts in the Middle East is increasing. Yet another endangered category adds to this. A few days ago the world was flooded with the news of the first climate refugee from Kiribati.

If we add here the challenges faced in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the result would be a dark picture of the global crisis. At first glance, it seems that superhuman effort is really needed for getting out of the crisis.
But what is the basis of the crisis? Man is the source of vast number of the problems and challenges our world is faced with. Hence, the answer to these challenges should be sought in the man. We do not need superhuman effort, but collective effort, unless unity is considered superhuman. Antagonisms prevailing in humanity should be replaced with synergy. The cure is in connectivity and interdependence, which implies shared rights and responsibilities.

Let's take the European Union as an example. Despite initial optimism, the Treaty of Lisbon has not fully met the expectations. The European Union aspired to be a relevant factor and actor in the international relations. It would be neither easy nor realistically feasible without adherence to three things.

First, restoration of consciousness that the European Union is primarily a peace project intended to expand the boundaries of peace, stability and prosperity in Europe. The Union should remain faithful to the great vision of a united and open continent. The fifth positive report of the European Commission on the Republic of Macedonia is a chance for the Union to justify its credibility and to enable opening of negotiations. Consistency in the enlargement policy will help the EU to remain competitive on the world stage. The European Council in December is likely to consider what happened in Ukraine. The European Council will have a chance to thoroughly devote to the Balkans. Accelerated integration of all countries in the region is needed.

Second, internal reforms of the EU mechanisms are necessary to successfully deal with crises. The rights of the member-states imply mutual responsibilities. It is enough to recall that the lack of fiscal discipline has led many states to the brink of bankruptcy.

Third, the Union committed to the enlargement and reform of mechanisms need to be open to what is a natural part of the wider and common Eurasian space. It would be best achieved by strengthening economic ties. The road to economic success goes through economic cooperation.

Esteemed Excellencies,

I have mentioned the Eurasian space. One of the topics of this conference is exactly Eurasia's positioning on the global stage. This topic is of crucial importance since it illustrates the significance of synergy through the prism of infrastructure, energy and economy.

I am well aware that sometimes there is a reductionist understanding of Eurasia - it is narrowed down to Central Asia and the Caucasus. But we need to think out of the patterns resulting from Eurocentrism and Asiancentrism. Neither Eurocentrism nor Asiancentrism have future. Eurocentrism caused dominance of Western European worldview, which, through colonialism spread throughout the world, imposing values that were alien to most non-European peoples. Asiancentrism, however, caused some sort of isolation and closure of Asia. Therefore, collective, synergistic comprehension of the things is required.

Among us today is Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Contemporary Library of Alexandria. A library which is a modern successor of the ancient Library of Alexandria. From the very beginning, Alexandria was a symbol of overcoming centrism and accepting worldview that every culture is valuable in its own way, and that every civilization can offer something. Alexandria and the library of Alexandria were the product of respect and acceptance of knowledge coming from other cultures and civilizations. They were a symbol of a synergistic approach as we need today.

Eurasia is more than the simple sum of continents and countries. Eurasia is a bridge between Europe and Asia, a bridge between various regions and countries. Europe and the European Union can not do without Asia. Asia, however, needs Europe and the European Union. We need to look through the prism of the overall profit for all of us.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Eurasia offers opportunities for collaboration, and there is potential to be utilized. Opportunities for cooperation in the field of economy, energy, trade, infrastructure and communications. This inevitably includes security issues as a prerequisite for future development, peace and economic prosperity, which is more than necessary for the world.

A growing number of initiatives, forums and conferences focus on Eurasian space in terms of current and future cooperation. Eurasia is increasingly subject of the future, not of the past. It is yet another proof that this term unites us even further.

Countries which belong to this space, but also want to be connected in certain way with this space, increasingly recognize that their progress depends on the cooperation and synergy. That their projects gain greater importance if put in the context of their neighbor. Mutual support is therefore necessary. We need the domino effect, but not of instability, as we are used to, but of mutual support and cooperation. We need that domino effect in the economic growth, as well.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Inclusiveness and connectivity are features of the new geo-cultural processes resulting from globalization. The first globalization appeared there, in Eurasia. Our cultures are products of that first globalization. Yet, the contemporary phase of globalization easily reaches all of us and penetrates through the more and more pale boundaries between East and West.

Globalization is a two-way process. It affects us, our societies and countries, but we also participate in its modeling through building and developing relations in the world.

Do we need a Heracles to achieve all these? I believe not. I think that is enough to focus on synergy, which should serve us in overcoming the global crisis. Synergy that we need to seek in ourselves, in our cooperation in the field of economy, energy, infrastructure, trade. Synergy that makes the link between cultural coexistence and economic interdependence unbreakable.

Thank you.