site.btaForeign Minister Mitov Confers with Serbian Counterpart Dacic in Belgrade

Foreign Minister Mitov Confers with Serbian Counterpart Dacic in Belgrade


Belgrade/Sofia, March 13 (BTA) - Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov
conferred with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic in Belgrade
on Friday, Mitov's ministry said in a press release. At the
meeting, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that strengthening
the goodneighbourly relations with Serbia is the basis of the
bilateral cooperation successful development. "We should
continue to work for deepening the pragmatic basis of our
relations both in the bilateral and regional context," he said.

The two foreign ministers discussed bilateral matters related to
the implementation of joint energy and transport projects, as
well as the opportunities for widening the Bulgarian-Serbian
economic cooperation. They agreed that by the end of 2015 their
governments should hold a joint sitting.

Mitov and Dacic also talked about the state of the Bulgarian
national minority in Serbia. They confirmed their countries'
mutual desire to work together for the quick solution of the
Bulgarian minority's problems, particularly in the sphere of
education and media in the Bulgarian language.

The Serbian Foreign Minister, who currently chairs the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
acquainted Mitov with the priority tasks of Serbia's OSCE
Chairmanship for 2015. Dacic outlined as key targets the
achievement of progress in the regulation of the Ukraine
conflict, as well as the strengthening of stability and security
in the Western Balkans.

Mitov confirmed that Bulgaria will provide Serbia with the
necessary assistance and support for the achievement of these
targets. He presented Bulgaria's position that the
implementation of the Minsk agreement will help find a peaceful
solution to the crisis in Ukraine. Mitov underscored the EU's
readiness to support the increase of the capacity and staff of
the OSCE mission in Eastern Ukraine.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister also said that European
integration is a historical chance for the transformation of the
Balkans into an area of security with real opportunities and
prospects for sustainable economic development. In this context,
Bulgaria will continue to support the European path of Serbia
in its aspiration for joining the European family, and is ready
to share relevant experience and expert opinion, Mitov added.