site.btaBulgaria Sets Priority on EU Membership for All Western Balkan Countries - Foreign Minister

Varna, on the Black Sea, September 2 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva Saturday said that one of Bulgaria's key foreign policy priorities is to see all countries of the Western Balkans join the EU when they are ready because the region is not stable yet.

Zaharieva is in Varna for the 10th Summer University of GERB's Youth organization.

Her recent visit to Montenegro gave her grounds to believe that Bulgaria and Montenegro can set a good example to the Balkans. The Foreign Minister said she was glad the Balkans are one of the key priorities of the European External Action Service.

Zaharieva also said there is no way only a certain group of countries can bear the brunt of the migrant crisis. "We should not close our eyes to the fact that those are not refugees but illegal immigrants. If we are to stem their flow, we should not only show solidarity with one another, we should mount a concerted effort. The situation now is worst in the Mediterranean and we should show solidarity with Italy," she said.