site.btaBulgaria-US Strategic Dialogue Held in Sofia

January 8 (BTA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and US Ambassador to Bulgaria Herro Mustafa opened a high-level Bulgaria-US Strategic Dialogue in Sofia on Wednesday. Participating was a US delegation led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central European Affairs and Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Matthew Boyse.

On the US delegation are Department of State Director of the Office of South Central Europe David Kostelancik, Department of State Office of Russian Affairs Political Unit Chief Scott Parrish, Department of State Bureau of Energy Resources Director for Europe, Western Hemisphere and Africa Colin Cleary, Office of the US Secretary of Defense, Director for European Policy, Central and Southern Europe Alton Buland, and Department of Justice Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe/Near East Paul Vaky.

Opening the Bulgaria-US Strategic Dialogue, Ambassador Mustafa said that the Dialogue will continue in the coming months and years as a new phase in the two countries' efforts to bring their bilateral relations to a higher level. The bilateral ties' upgrade will be achieved through new initiatives: agreements in the energy sector, defence and 5G technologies, and talks about Bulgaria's inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program, she specified.

She also said that in March the US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs will visit Bulgaria to discuss the visa topic. Bulgaria has already been visited by a high-level US business delegation that met with the Transport, IT and Communications Minister, and another delegation will come to this country later in January, Mustafa noted.

In his address, Prime Minister Borissov underscored that Bulgaria and the US have strategic cooperation in many areas of importance not just to Bulgaria but also to the Balkans, the region and the US.

Talking about the bilateral cooperation in defence, Borissov said that last year's purchase of F-16 fighter aircraft was an important deal showing Bulgaria's goals, prospects, affiliation, and true NATO defence capabilities.

Talking about energy security, Borissov said that Bulgaria aims to protect its economic interest and key role of a strategic gas hub. He went on to say that at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting the Council of Ministers would adopt a decision to acquire a 20 per cent ownership stake in the Alexandroupolis Floating Storage and Regasification Unit - the same percentage as that of Greece's state-owned energy company. Borissov also said that in late January the Bulgarian Energy Minister will hold direct negotiations with US companies on more favourable prices for Bulgaria's economy and industry.

In Borissov's words, Balkan Stream is not an extension of the TurkStream gas pipeline project, because Bulgaria is building its own gas transmission network with the most powerful US compressors. Bulgaria is not doing anything in the dark, he added.

Talking about the migration crisis, the Bulgarian Prime Minister said there is zero migration in his country thanks not only to the Bulgaria's effective actions but also to the bilateral relations with Turkey.

Borissov expressed the hope that the US visa regime for Bulgarians will be lifted within a year or a year and a half.

He also expressed the hope that the US will back Bulgaria's entry in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Boyse said that Bulgaria is a regional leader and has demonstrated decisiveness to modernize its Armed Forces by purchasing the F-16 aircraft. The US wants Bulgaria to become a true gas hub, he also said.

Wednesday's Bulgaria-US Strategic Dialogue was divided into panels on the following topics: bilateral issues; security and defence cooperation; economy, trade, and energy cooperation; and rule of law.

NV/DS


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