site.btaBulgaria Attends Foreign Affairs Council Sitting in Brussels

Brussels, March 23 (BTA) - Bulgaria participated in the sitting
of the EU Foreign Affairs Council that took place here on
Tuesday. This country was represented by Ambassador Dimiter
Tzantchev, its permanent representative to the EU.

The discussion focused on the Southern Neighbourhood, relations
with Turkey and Russia, the current situation in Venezuela, the
Western Balkans, Georgia, Armenia and Myanmar. The EU foreign
ministers also spoke via video conference with UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

One of the most important topics on the Council's agenda was the
 EU-Turkey relations. The discussion of the foreign ministers on
 that matter is part of their preparation for the upcoming EU
Council video conference on March 25-26, 2021. In his address,
Ambassador Tzantchev said that the thorough and strict
implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement on migration is very
important to Bulgaria, adding that the EU's financial aid for
refugees in Turkey must continue.
   
During the meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, the EU foreign ministers underscored the importance of
multilateralism in international relations and of the US
rejoining the UN Human Rights Council.

Ambassador Tzantchev expressed conviction that the joint efforts
 of the EU and the UN High Commissioner will play an enormous
part in promoting the respect for human rights on a global
scale, adding that the pandemic cannot be an excuse for limiting
 the democratic space of citizens. He also confirmed Bulgaria's
support for the work of High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, and
 pointed out the need for a close cooperation with the US on the
 various matters related to human rights protection.
       
High Representative Josep Borrell briefed the Council on the
current political situations in Russia, the countries in the
Western Balkans, Venezuela, Georgia, Armenia and Myanmar.
NV/MT