site.btaPresident Radev Confers with German President Steinmeier on Sidelines of Arraiolos Group Meeting

alletta, September 14 (BTA) - On the sidelines of the 13th Arraiolos Group Meeting of presidents of EU Member States in Valletta, Malta, on Thursday, Bulgarian head of State Rumen Radev conferred with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said Radev's Press Secretariat. The two leaders arrived in Valletta ahead of the Arraiolos Group Meeting to meet and discuss bilateral relations.

President Steinmeier is quoted as saying that Bulgaria has established itself as a key and reliable partner of his country within the EU and that Germany will back the efforts of Bulgaria to ensure the security of the EU external border.

The two Presidents were unanimous that it takes unity and resolute measures within the EU to protect the democratic values in the member states and prevent external influences in the political and election processes.

President Radev thanked Germany for the good partnership in the area of security and dealing with the migrant crisis. "Bulgaria is aware of its important responsibility and is strictly implementing its obligation to protect the border. On the backdrop of the unpredictable situation in the region, however, more European solidarity is called for. The national budget alone cannot provide the resources that will be needed in the event of a new large migrant wave," the Bulgarian President reportedly said.

President Steinmeier showed interest in the planned establishment of a new body to right high-level corruption. He assured Radev that German businesses are strongly interested in investing in Bulgaria but believe that an important condition is the adoption of working anti-corruption measures and a working judiciary.

President Steinmeier accepted President Radev's invitation to visit Bulgaria next year.