site.bta Foreign Minister Zaharieva Presents Bulgaria's Foreign Policy Priorities to Diplomatic Corps

Foreign Minister Zaharieva Presents Bulgaria's Foreign Policy Priorities to Diplomatic Corps

Sofia, June 16 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva Friday presented Bulgaria's foreign policy priorities to the diplomatic corps, Zaharieva's Ministry said in a press release.

"The European and Euro-Atlantic direction of development has always been of key interest to Bulgaria. I am glad that there is consistency and continuity in foreign policy in this respect," Zaharieva said.

Among the important foreign-policy targets that the Government sets itself in a European context, she singled out the country's accession to Schengen and the eurozone.

"Bulgaria takes an exceedingly responsible view of our country's forthcoming first Presidency of the EU Council and the topics on which it will concentrate: Brexit, the debate on the future of Europe, and the next multiannual financial framework," the Deputy PM stressed. "Joint work on the Trio Programme has been finalized, and I do not doubt that we will succeed in implementing the priorities we have set."

"Our country will also make efforts towards finding sustainable European solutions to the migration problem and ensuring full control of the EU external borders."

"In external relations, the Bulgarian Presidency programme will focus on the Western Balkans," Zaharieva pointed out. She described the European and Euro-Atlantic orientation of the Western Balkans as Bulgaria's foremost priority exceeding the bounds of the Presidency.

Bulgaria considers it important to continue to deepen bilateral political, economic and cultural relations with the countries of Southeastern Europe.

"We prioritize our NATO membership and participation in the security cooperation formats, asserting the balance and stability in the Black Sea region," the Foreign Minister said. In her words, the institutions are in consensus that this country will honour the commitments assumed in Wales on a phased increase of defence spending.

Zaharieva stressed to the diplomatic corps that her Ministry will also work for an improvement of the effectiveness of Bulgaria's participation in the UN and other international organizations, entities and forums of a universal nature.

Joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development was noted as yet another foreign policy priority for Bulgaria.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that care and protection of Bulgarian communities abroad and promoting and encouraging their culture and national self-identification will be a key priority, and she thanked the representatives of the foreign diplomatic missions for the support to this end.