On 13 September 2016, H.E. Xavier Lapeyre De Cabanes, Ambassador of the French Republic to Bulgaria, gave his valedictory speech in Bulgaria, on the topic “Mission Accomplished: My Hopes for Bulgaria”. The event was held at Sofia Hotel Balkan and was organized by the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria. The President of the Atlantic Club Dr. Solomon Passy called it the “Apple Speech”, because of the comments of H.E. De Cabanes that there were “rotten apples” in the Bulgarian judicial system.

The Ambassador claimed that the relations between Bulgaria and France were close in every aspect. De Cabanes defined as his personal success the Thracian exhibition in the Louvre, which showed the French this unknown culture to them. He stressed on the notion that the European peoples must work for their rapprochement, because they shared common future, despite their cultural differences.

According to H.E. De Cabanes “the lack of analysis, understanding and study of the realities of the communism” wasthe main reason behind the hindering of the democratization process in Bulgaria. He though that the absence of taken responsibility and understanding of the foundations of the regime were exactly the reasons why young Bulgarians wanted to leave the country.

He praised the Bulgarian youth for their progressiveness but also warned them that if they emigrated, they would leave Bulgaria in the hands of the oligarchy.

The Ambassador claimed that in spite of the totalitarian regime and the failure of the transition period, he believed in Bulgaria and its future generations.

You can watch a video recording of the speech of H.E. Xavier Lapeyre De Cabanes here.