site.btaBulgaria, Italian Foreign Ministers Confer in Rome

Bulgaria, Italian Foreign Ministers Confer in Rome

Rome, May 24 (BTA exclusive by Hristo Petrov) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov conferred here on Tuesday with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni. Mitov is in Rome on a working visit and for the observances of May 24, Day of Bulgarian Education and Culture and of Slav Letters.

The two chief diplomats, accompanied by their delegations, talked for an hour in English, without interpreters. Bulgaria's Ambassador to Italy Marin Raykov attended as well.

After the talks, Mitov made a statement for BTA and the Bulgarian National Television. "We considered certain aspects of bilateral relations and the prospects for their deepening. We paid particular attention to the migration issue and the potential risks it poses. As a result of the agreement reached between the EU and Turkey, pressure on the borders has eased, but a risk potential has built up. In our opinion, a 'Plan B' has to be drawn up, in case 'Plan A' on migration is not implemented. Bulgaria has long insisted on such a precaution because the migration situation is very volatile and sudden changes are possible. We cannot afford to be taken by surprise. Italy shows understanding of this position. On the subject of migration, we also discussed the measures for sustainable development of North Africa, for tightened border control and a repatriation mechanism. To this end, resources will have to be invested in building infrastructures in third country. Minister Gentiloni and I are unanimous that crises in the region call for greater political integration in the EU, closer attention to external border control, vigorous information exchange and coordination of repatriation measures," Mitov emphasized.

Gentiloni's Ministry quoted him in a press release as saying: "We believe in your country's economic potential, and also in the positive trend recorded up to now, and we hope our cooperation will become even closer, especially in the energy sector." "Italy is one of Bulgaria's major foreign investors, with over 1,000 Italian companies operating there, with an annual turnover of more than 2 billion euro, amounting to approximately 5 per cent of Bulgaria's GDP. In addition, in 2015 Italy became Bulgaria second-largest trade partner, with a trade volume of more than 4 billion euro (+3.8 per cent from 2014)," the press release notes.

"There was also an ample identity of views on topics of common interest, such as energy security and the migration issue. Bulgaria responded positively to the 'Migration Compact', agreeing on the urgency of short-term interventions and the importance of the EU cooperating with the countries of origin and transit. The two ministers then discussed the agreement with Turkey and its future perspectives," the Italian Foreign Ministry said. "The meeting represented an opportunity to make a general overview of the main topics on the international scenario, including the situation in Libya and Syria, the Ukrainian crisis and the fight against terrorism."

Within the framework of his working visit, Foreign Minister Mitov conferred with Franco Frattini, President of the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI), a non-profit organization established in 1944 and operating under the supervision of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It seeks to promote knowledge of international policy issues in order to contributing to a just and peaceful international order, to an effective progress in European unification and to the enhancement of public awareness of human rights.