site.btaPresident Plevneliev's Meetings during SEECP Summit

President Plevneliev's Meetings during SEECP Summit

Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - During the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit, President Rosen Plevneliev Wednesday talked with Presidents Bujar Nishani of Albania, Nicolae Timofti of Moldova and Hashim Thaci of Kosovo, as well as with Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the President's press secretariat said.

Meeting with Nishani, Plevneliev said Bulgaria's excellent dialogue with Albania and Croatia during its SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office created sustainability and an opportunity to build upon the results achieved in regional partnership. The three countries form the Troika made up of the previous, present and next Chairman-in-Office.

Plevneliev said the countries of Southeastern Europe can implement regional energy infrastructure projects only by pursuing shared priorities for strengthening energy security. He called for concerted action in defending and consolidating the European values in the Balkans, and thanked Nishani for his consistent principled position on Albania's European perspective.

The Albanian President said his country is committed to its EU track and is resolute to implement the reforms required for full EU membership. He thanked Plevneliev for Bulgaria's support in this process.

For his part, Plevneliev voiced Bulgaria's readiness to help Albania develop its capacity to manage EU funding, and stressed the need of closer cooperation in the energy sector, energy efficiency and ICT.

Plevneliev conferred the Order of the Balkan Range, First Class, on Nishani for his contribution to the development of bilateral relations. Nishani conferred the Order of the National Flag on Plevneliev for his role in developing friendly relations between Bulgaria and Albania.

Meeting with Timofti, Plevneliev said Bulgaria firmly supports Moldova's European perspective. "We will be glad to share our experience and will continue helping your country to accomplish its progress."

The Moldovan President thanked Plevneliev for Bulgaria's support in this process and expressed a hope that two-way trade and economic relations would be boosted.

Timofti thanked Bulgaria for supporting the European Parliament's decision to allow visa-free EU travel for Moldovans holding biometric passports.

Regarding the Bulgarian community in Moldova, Timofti noted that his country supports the demands of all minority groups which fall within their constitutional rights.

Timofti invited Plevneliev to visit Moldova at his convenience.

Plevneliev assured Hashim Thaci that Bulgaria would continue supporting Kosovo on its EU track. The two Presidents will work towards stepping up economic relations between Sofia and Pristina and will promote the deepening of business contacts. The two heads of State identified the energy sector, mining, tourism and agriculture as potential areas of economic cooperation.

Thaci noted his country's progress towards building goodneighbourly relations and expressed readiness to develop constructive dialogue with Albania's neighbours.

Plevneliev urged Kosovo to tap the opportunities provided by close partnership with the EU. Pristina will benefit from using the EU as a platform for negotiations and deepening of its partnerships, he said.

Plevneliev and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier exchanged views on matters on the regional and international agenda, including the political situation in Southeastern Europe and Eastern Ukraine. The two concurred on the need to strengthen the interaction between the Euro-Atlantic organizations and regional formats of political dialogue such as the SEECP. The two praised highly the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office, which ended with the Sofia Summit.

On Tuesday Plevneliev talked with Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov.