site.btaVice President Iotova Confers with Swiss President Berset

Bern, March 26 (BTA) - Bulgaria is a good mediator between the Western Balkans and Switzerland, said Swiss President Alain Berset at a meeting with Vice President Iliana Iotova here on Monday.

Switzerland takes keen interest in the former Yugoslav countries and Albania. Some 500,000 citizens from these countries are already Swiss nationals. Switzerland is ready to implement joint infrastructure and transport projects with Bulgaria in these countries.

Berset hailed Bulgaria's initiative to put the Western Balkans at top of its EU Presidency agenda.

The two sides also discussed challenges to the future of the European Union and the Multiannual Financial Framework within the context of Brexit. The Bulgarian Vice President underscored the importance of the Cohesion Policy which is one of the main priorities of the Bulgarian EU Presidency.

On Wednesday, the Swiss federal government is set to debate a cooperation programme between Switzerland and Bulgaria, it emerged at the meeting, which has already implemented projects in the area of security, environment and education. The Swiss President said that his country intends to continue the Bulgarian-Swiss Cooperation Programme after 2019.

Earlier, meeting with Bulgarian expatriates in Switzerland, Vice President Iliana Iotova said that the presidency is working to improve communication and cooperation between the Bulgarian state and the Bulgarian communities abroad.

The Vice President said that the Bulgarians communities abroad an enormous potential for the country. According to official figures, 8,000 Bulgarians live in Switzerland and most are highly qualified specialists.

Iotova outlined the activities of the National Council for Bulgarians Abroad.

Iotova's meeting in Bern was the first with representatives of the so-called new emigration. During her first year in office the Vice President visited nearly all Bulgarian historical diasporas.

The Bulgarian expatriates outlined the lack of representation and the establishment of public councils of Bulgarians abroad as key.

The Vice President said that an internet platform which is underway will facilitate contact between the Bulgarian communities abroad. Iotova underscored a need for a register of the Bulgarian communities abroad and noted the good cooperation between the relevant institution.

The Vice President congratulated Bulgarian Ambassador Meglena Plougchieva in Switzerland on the close contacts which the Bulgarian embassy maintains with the Bulgarian community in Switzerland.