site.btaRomanian President Iohannis Visits Bulgaria

Romanian President Iohannis Visits Bulgaria

Sofia, June 15 (BTA) - "Bulgaria will support efforts to boost security in the region by words and actions, as this is in our strategic interest," said President Rosen Plevneliev during a joint news conference with Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis, who is on a two-day official visit here.

The Bulgarian head of State said that the changed security environment has raised concerns and added that the Ukraine crisis calls for putting emphasis on the Black Sea region when drawing and implementing EU and NATO policies. "The Black Sea region is of strategic importance to the Euro-Atlantic security and has become increasingly important following Russia's actions in Ukraine and due to the lingering conflicts in the Black Sea region," said Plevneliev.

The Bulgarian head of State said that Bulgaria will support the establishment of a NATO staff centre and a multinational framework brigade in Romania, which is expected to be decided at the NATO Summit in Warsaw. Plevneliev said that the Bulgarian position, declared by Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev after his meeting with Romanian counterpart in Brussels on Tuesday, was to this effect and that Bulgaria may commit up to 400 servicemen for training and exercises on a rotating basis.

Bulgaria also supports Romania's initiative, which is a regional maritime initiative and is entirely defensive, said Plevneliev.

Prospects for development of bilateral economic and commercial cooperation within the European Union and NATO, maintaining security in the region and migratory pressure featured on the agenda of talks between Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and visiting Romanian President Johannis.

"We expect the procedure in the Romanian stretch for the construction of a gas interconnector between Bulgaria and Romania at Rousse-Giurgiu to conclude within the shortest possible time so that the project is finalized," said Borissov. The Bulgarian Prime Minister and the Romanian President concurred that once operational the interconnector will strengthen gas infrastructure and will improve security of gas deliveries in the region.

Borissov and Johannis discussed traditionally good relations between the governments and the state institutions of the two countries, citing a council for high-level cooperation and regular joint meetings of the two governments. The two considered a draft common position for scrapping Canadian visas for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals.

Also, Borissov and Romanian President Johannis discussed the EU enlargement policy with regard to the Western Balkans, boosting regional and cross-border cooperation and security along the external borders of the EU and Schengen within the context of the migration crisis.