site.btaForeign Minister Mitov Confers with US Secretary of Energy Moniz, Trade Representative Froman

Foreign Minister Mitov Confers with US Secretary of Energy Moniz, Trade Representative Froman

Washington, July 22 (BTA) - Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov conferred here on Thursday with US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and US Trade Representative Michael Froman, Mitov's Ministry said in a Friday press release.

Mitov's meeting with Moniz marked the start of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister's working visit to Washington. The two assessed highly the cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector and energy security. Mitov welcomed the US' consistent support for key projects for the diversification of sources and routes for the supply of energy resources in Bulgaria and the region. The Bulgarian Minister and the US Secretary of Energy also discussed the progress in the construction of natural gas interconnectors with neighbouring countries. An emphasis was placed on the facility with Greece and the Bulgarian Government's plans to participate in the construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupolis. Bulgaria's top diplomat outlined the measures for the liberalization of the energy market in Bulgaria, the modernization of infrastructure, expanding the natural gas storage facility in Chiren (northwestern Bulgaria), as well as the plans to build a natural gas distribution centre.

The US Secretary of Energy declared a commitment to deepen cooperation with Bulgaria and continue with the joint efforts for diversification of energy sources and routes.

Later Minister Mitov conferred with US Trade Representative Michael Froman, with whom he discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation and the opportunities to enhance commercial exchange and investment cooperation.

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement negotiations were also a subject of discussion. Froman, who is the US chief negotiator, and Mitov voiced hope that the TTIP talks and negotiations conclude expeditiously. Both sides agreed that a mutually beneficial agreement would foster opportunities for economic growth and is of exceptional importance in light of the UK's EU membership referendum results, as well as the overall geopolitical situation in the world. Signing the TTIP will send a strong signal of the unity and sustainability of the Transatlantic bond in all of its shapes and forms, including trade, economic and political cooperation, as well as security, Mitov and Froman noted.