site.btaInterior Minister Buchvarova Arrives on Two-day Visit to Canada

Interior Minister Buchvarova Arrives on Two-day Visit to Canada

Sofia/Ottawa, March 27 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and
Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova is on a two-day visit to
Canada. This is the first such visit of a Bulgarian Interior
Minister to the North American country, said the Interior
Ministry in a Friday press release. 
 
Speaking during his meeting with Buchvarova, Canada's Minister
of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander said that his
country is working for a visa-free regime with Europe, including
 Bulgaria. He explained that this question can be reviewed
within a year's time. The two also discussed a series of good
practices of the Canadian policy for integrating immigrants. It
emerged from the meeting that the key elements for the
successful integration of immigrants in Canada are the presence
of economic logic, a hospitable local community and public
support. According to Buchvarova, Bulgaria could take advantage
of Canada's experience and approach for the integration of
refugees in this country.

The Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister also conferred with Canada's
 Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Steven
Blaney. She noted the Bulgarian Government's efforts and
measures for ensuring border control and countering foreign
fighters.

Buchvarova visited the Canadian Parliament, where she had a
working lunch with the Canada-Bulgaria Inter-Parliamentary
Friendship Group. The Group's Deputy Chair Yonah Martin
described Buchvarova's presence as contributing to the deepening
 of bilateral relations. Buchvarova presented the Government's
priorities and the challenges her country faces. She also
discussed with Canadian MPs the opportunities and the sectors
for potential Canadian investors in Bulgaria.