site.btaDuring Visit to Tel Aviv Bulgarian Foreign Minister Confirms Strategic Bilateral Relations with Israel

Tel Aviv/Sofia, November 12 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva Thursday paid
a visit to Israel, her first one there in her current official
capacity, Zaharieva's Ministry said in a press release.

During a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi,
the two officials agreed on expanding the bilateral cooperation
in all areas of mutual interest, including security, energy,
tourism, trade and high technology.

Zaharieva said, quoted in the press release, that 2020 marks the
 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic ties between
the two countries. "In the course of these three decades Israel
has remained Bulgaria's closest friend and strategic partner in
the Middle East," she said.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister went on to note the excellent
political relations between Bulgaria and Israel, with no
unresolved issues. However, Zaharieva said that the bilateral
trade should increase.

The two-way commercial exchange in 2019 totalled 209 million US
dollars, growing by nearly 50 per cent from the preceding year.
In the first half of 2020, mainly on account of the coronavirus
situation, the bilateral trade dropped by 3.6 per cent
year-on-year to 92 million dollars.

The two foreign ministers agreed whereby the mixed commission
for economic and trade cooperation hold its first meeting, even
by video conference, which is expected to give a boost to the
economic ties and investments. Zaharieva singled out the IT
sector, scientific research and energy as areas for cooperation.
 

Zaharieva and Ashkenazi signed a memorandum of understanding and
 cooperation in energy between the two countries' energy
ministries. The memorandum seeks to promote cooperation in the
security of the energy infrastructure, in renewable energy, and
the implementation of joint energy projects.

Zaharieva and Ashkenazi also discussed bilateral tourism. In
2019 Bulgaria was visited by more than 250,000 Israeli holiday
makers. Ashkenazi accepted Zaharieva's invitation to visit Sofia
 and Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria).

The two ministers stressed that the strategic relations between
Bulgaria and the State of Israel rest on the deep historical
roots between the two peoples during hardships.

Ashkenazi said that all Jews and the people of Israel will
remember forever those who stood by them during the darkest
period of history, especially in Europe. The Israeli Foreign
Minister whose father is a Bulgarian Jew from Plovdiv referred
to the saving of Bulgarian Jews from being sent to Nazi
concentration camps during World War Two. Ashkenazi offered
special thanks to the Bulgarian government for its efforts in
the fight against anti-Semitism.

The two foreign ministers also discussed issues of international
 security, the fight against terrorism, and the situation in the
 Middle East.

Next, Zaharieva conferred with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu. The intensification of the economic relations topped
the agenda of the meeting. Netanyahu relayed special greetings
to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.  

Zaharieva also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin with
whom she discussed the challenges before international security
and the security in the Middle East and the threats from the
coronavirus pandemic. NV/ZH