site.btaDeputy PM Zaharieva Takes Part in Second Rhodes Conference for Security and Stability

Deputy PM Zaharieva Takes Part in Second Rhodes Conference for Security and Stability

Rhodes Island, May 22 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva is participating in the Second Rhodes Conference for Security and Stability, which is taking place in Rhodes, Greece, on May 22-23, the Foreign Ministry said.

Zaharieva hailed the hosts' efforts to expand their initiative and hold a Second Rhodes Conference. She singled out the positive agenda of the forum.

The inclusion of topics such as education, culture and the environment, and successful cooperation in these areas will create development prospects and jobs for young people from the Middle East countries, said Zaharieva. This is a constructive approach to the complex issue of migration. Bulgaria is ready to contribute to the ongoing initiatives and work for their expansion, she stressed.

The conference aims to continue the efforts for establishing a positive agenda for regional cooperation and mutual understanding among the participating countries in the modern environment of crises, challenges and conflicts. Attending the forum are 20 delegations from Europe, the Middle East, the Gulf and organizations such as the League of Arab States and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. Indonesia was granted observer status.

Zaharieva met with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry at the conference, the Foreign Ministry said.

The two chief diplomats discussed aspects of bilateral cooperation. They are satisfied with the increase in two-way trade, which topped 700 million US dollars in 2016. They agreed to strengthen their countries' interaction in the fight against terrorism, radicalization, trafficking in human beings, cultural and historical property, and illegal migration.

Zaharieva and Shoukry planned measures to step up cooperation on the basis of the existing agreements. In this context, they briefly reviewed the legal framework of Bulgarian-Egyptian relations.

The sides reaffirmed their wish to invigorate political dialogue at all levels, and exchanged invitations for visits. Zaharieva expressed a hope that her Egyptian counterpart would visit Sofia shortly.