Bulgaria Defending National Interest Despite 'Hybrid Influece' of 3rd Countries

Bulgaria proved in 2015 that it is defending its national interest in spite of "activization of terrorist activity, increased migratory pressure and hybrid influence of third countries", Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said Thursday.

His comment was a clear reference to the notion of "hybrid war" which some Bulgarian politicians accuse Russia of waging in Eastern Europe.

Speaking at his 2015 roundup press conference, he asserted Bulgaria "came back on the international arena" within a week with its "active foreign policy" and reconfirmed its EU and NATO membership.

He argued Sofia was carrying out a "recognizable and strong foreign policy capable of giving concrete solutions to complicated circumstances".

As a clear indication to the shift compared to the previous government, Mitov recalled that a number of "leaders of global and European politics" visited Bulgaria and showed that the Bulgarian government "has regained the trust of its Western partners".

In Mitov's words, apart from energy diplomacy, a key foreign-policy vector is the support for EU integration of the Western Balkans.

The current government has long maintained the previous social-liberal administration was isolated and marginalized by the EU, with Prime Minister Oresharski, Foreign Minister Vigenin and business delegations visiting countries such as Vietnam and Azerbaijan but not enjoying popularity among EU leaders.