site.btaBulgaria Ready to Join EU Efforts to Achieve Independence in Health Equipment Supplies

October 2 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - Bulgaria is ready to manufacture on its own protective clothing, face masks, face shields and ventilators as a contribution to the EU's efforts to achieve independence in health equipment supplies amidst the COVID-19 crisis, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on his way into the Special European Council meeting here on Friday. Ensuring independent health supplies for the EU is on the agenda of the EU summit.

"I remain of the opinion that the EU must be completely independent of third countries for the import of all medical equipment, vaccines and medicines, all the more so considering our difficult political relations with them," Borissov said. He said that on Thursday evening his counterparts and he discussed issues that have been familiar for decades. "I think we managed to find a relatively good balance between protecting Greece and Cyprus and, at the same time, giving Turkey an opportunity until December to take steps so that we can deepen our cooperation rather than impose sanctions," the Prime Minister said, referring to the decisions on the Turkish actions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

"We all categorically urge for the start of a dialogue and cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh," Borissov. "We are adamant that the European Commission, too, should prepare a comprehensive plan of economic support for democratic Belarus.. We support the democratic forces there. We categorically condemn Alexey Navalny's poisoning and insist that those responsible should be brought to justice," the Bulgarian head of government added. RI/LG
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