One of NATO's priorities in the next few years should be the crafting of a new image, Solomon Passy believes.

The statement was made by Passy, who is the Bulgarian nominee for the new NATO Secretary General post, in an interview for the Spanish newspaper ABC.

"NATO must continue with all of its current priorities and add two additional ones - new international image and European Union relations," Passy is quoted as saying.

Passy further states that NATO and the EU must create new synergy, made possible by France's return to the Alliance and the election of Barack Obama as US President.

When asked if he saw Russia's declared rearmament as a threat, Passy, called by the ABC reporter the synonym of NATO in Bulgaria, says that the Alliance needs to take into account Russia' key international role. Passy points out that NATO must not step back from its values but keep in mind that Russia is a United Nations member and NATO's partner in Afghanistan.

Passy further says in the interview that Bulgaria will continue to send military contingent in different parts of the world in order to keep threats away from national borders, adding the European NATO members must adopt joint defense policies.

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