site.btaSudanese Foreign Minister Pays Visit in Sofia

Sofia, July 27 (BTA) - Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour was on an official visit to Sofia Thursday to become the first top diplomat of his country visiting Bulgaria after the start of democratic changes here in 1989. He met with Parliament leader Dimiter Glavchev and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, and discussed with them ways to broaden cooperation.

Zaharieva told the guest that his visit is sure to open up a new chapter in bilateral relations. She said the relations are excellent but need to be intensified.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister singled out some areas offering a potential for stronger cooperation: the mining industry, agriculture and production of foods, the IT sector and production of electricity.

It transpired that the two sides have agreed to organize a joint business forum soon and to arrange a visit to Sudan for Bulgarian business people.

Zaharieva pointed out that over 3,000 Sudanese people have studied in Bulgaria and education is yet another area where the two sides have agreed to cooperate.

The two also discussed the situation in the Middle East and Africa and Zaharieva thanked the guest for his government's efforts against terrorism. "They are among the strongest allies and partners of the EU in this area," she added.

Foreign Minister Ghandour spoke about his country's wealth of mineral resources and important geographic location placing it among the countries which will be responsible for feeding the world in the future. Bulgaria, on the other hand, has experience and expertise in a variety of areas and Sudan can use these, he added.

He also said that his country is on the front line of the global fight against human trafficking, illegal migration and terrorism.

Ekaterina Zaharieva and Ibrahim Ghandour signed a Memorandum of understanding between the foreign ministries of Bulgaria and Sudan and a cooperation memorandum between the Diplomatic Institute with the Bulgarian Foreign Minister and the National Centre for Diplomatic Studies with the Sudanese Foreign Ministry.

Ways to advance parliamentary and economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Sudan were on the agenda of a meeting between Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Dimiter Glavchev and Sudanese Foreign Minister Ghandour.

Glavchev said that Bulgarian-Sudanese relations have been traditionally good, recalling that 2016 saw the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Bulgarian Parliament Chair informed his guest that a Bulgaria-Sudan Friendship Group will help invigorate bilateral relations in various areas.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister noted the untapped potential for development of closer trade and economic ties.

Bulgaria has given high marks to Sudan's achievements in the field of security, fight against terrorism ad migration issues as well as upholding democratic values.

The meeting was attended by parliamentary foreign affairs chair Dzhema Grozdanova and Bulgaria-Sudan Friendship Group chair Dessislava Atanassova.