The Presidency of the Council of the EU is an opportunity to show a different image of Bulgaria. This was what the head of the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the EU in Brussels, Ambassador Dimiter Tzanchev told reporters.

He pointed out that Bulgaria was protecting the external borders of the EU, although it was not part of Schengen, and that it had stable currency thanks to the currency board. In Bulgaria, different religions have lived peacefully together for centuries, the ambassador added. He highlighted the presidency's priorities, including the Western Balkans, but said that this country would not want to cause unrealistic expectations in countries in the region.

Ambassador Tzanchev said he expected Russia would have predictable policy and would not interfere in the affairs of other countries and added that the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement was an important condition for revising sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow.