site.btaGerman Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Official Visit in Sofia

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Official Visit in Sofia

Sofia, March 10 (BTA) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter
Steinmeier was on an official visit in Sofia on Tuesday. He
conferred with his Bulgarian counterpart Daniel Mitov and Prime
Minister Boyko Borissov. The German guest is also scheduled to
meet President Rosen Plevneliev.

Follwoing his meeting with Minister Steinmeier, Bulgaria's chief
diplomat Daniel Mitov said this visit reaffirmed that the
Bulgarian government attaches a priority strategic importance to
its relations with Germany.

Steinmeier noted that cooperation between the two countries is
necessary and they need each other. He said many German
companies operate in Bulgaria, 50,000 Bulgarians live and work
in Germany, and some 5,000 Bulgarian students attend German
universities. He said his country is ready to help Bulgaria with
the necessary reforms. The two also discussed ways to improve
the investment climate in Bulgaria.

The two foreign ministers discussed the bilateral energy
dialogue and affirmed their readiness to promote investments in
Bulgaria. Mitov said: "Besides support for judicial reform in
Bulgaria and cooperation in strengthening the rule of law and
justice, we expect Germany to provide support for improving
performance in using EU funds." Germany will also help Bulgaria
prepare for assuming the EU Presidency in 2018.

Mitov said Bulgaria is at a geographical crossroads but it has
no doubts about its political position and foreign policy
profile whatsoever. Bulgaria is an EU and NATO member. "We
formulate our positions together and as a country we stand as a
reliable partner in the EU and NATO," he said. "True, we are at
a geographical crossroads between two very serious conflicts -
one in Ukraine, the other in the Middle East, and the threat of
the Islamic State. That is why we are seeking very active
dialogue with all our partners."

Commenting the Minsk process in Ukraine, Steinmeier expressed
hope that the agreements reached would stop the violence. "If we
succeed, we will really be one step closer but we still will
not be at the end of this process. The steps ahead are very
difficult and perhaps then Ukraine will most need our assistance
because it will face serious economic hardships," the German
Foreign Minister said.

Mitov thanked Germany for its role in the talks which led to the

Minsk agreement. He voiced support for increasing the capacity
and strength of the OSCE mission in Ukraine.

During his meeting with the German Minister, Prime Minister
Borissov lobbied for the construction of a German automobile
manufacturing plant in Bulgaria. Speaking at a news conference
after the meeting, Borissov said that, for starters, he is
working on getting at least one car plant to move to Bulgaria.
According to him, it does not matter if this is BMW, Mercedes,
Porche or Volkswagen. The important thing is to have a complete
car manufactured in Bulgaria. Car parts are being manufactured
here, which can be used to assemble a whole car, Borissov said,
adding that a whole plant can be built. "Given the lowest tax
rates, the exceptionally qualified workers, we can create the
conditions for Bulgarians to work here and not go to Germany,"
Borissov said.

The two also discussed the Schengen topic. Borissov said it is
impressive that both the Left- and Right- wings in Bulgaria are
making efforts for Bulgaria's Schengen accession.

Borissov and Steinmeier discussed the idea for building a
natural gas hub on Bulgarian territory, which can be fed with
gas from the interconnector with Greece, from the Bulgarian
deposits and all other possible places. According to Borissov,
at least four to five suppliers can be found for this hub.

Minister Steinmeier said that ways are being sought to get more
German companies to come to Bulgaria, however, the conditions
which attract them are not just the low wages of qualified
workers and employers. According to him, reforms are needed in
Bulgarian domestic policy, the judicial system, while the
deficiencies in public procurement procedures must be overcome.
The economic exchange continues to grow and the full potential
has not been reached, which is why it is worth it to work in
that direction, the German Foreign Minister noted.