site.btaDeputy PM Gabriel Meets with Diplomats from Middle East, North Africa

On August 14, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel participated in a working lunch with the heads of diplomatic missions of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region accredited in Bulgaria. The meeting was organized on the initiative of the group of ambassadors from the MENA region and was hosted by Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Bulgaria Khalid bin Kamal Faqih.

The discussion touched upon a number of significant issues in the sphere of Bulgaria's bilateral relations with the countries of this strategically important region, as well as topical issues of regional concern. Deputy PM Gabriel underscored the importance for the Bulgarian government of further deepening and building on the cooperation with the countries of the MENA region.

Gabriel acknowledged the existence of significant unrealised potential in the area of trade and economic cooperation. Bulgaria sees opportunities for its realisation through expanding trade, deepening cooperation in the energy sector, increasing tourism and cultural exchanges, attracting direct investment in the Bulgarian economy and seeking opportunities for Bulgarian participation in investment projects in the countries of the region, as well as developing cooperation in the defence industry. Particular attention was paid to the opportunities to build on and expand these traditional areas of cooperation with a mutually beneficial partnership in the field of innovation, digital governance and artificial intelligence. In this context, it was clarified that the relevant structural units in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been tasked to prepare a roadmap for the deployment of this country’s cooperation with the MENA region in sectors of shared interest, and bilateral visits at the ministerial level are being planned and coordinated, political consultations are being held with a number of countries of the region, and work is underway on the preparation and implementation of state visits here and abroad.

Particular attention was also paid to other important issues, including: the crises in Niger, Syria and Yemen, the Middle East peace process and relations between the EU and the countries of the Middle East and Africa region as a whole. The ongoing Russian military aggression in Ukraine and the global dimensions of the consequences of this grave conflict were also discussed. In this context, special attention was paid to Bulgaria's active role in shaping the EU's common foreign and security policy, including in relation to the Middle East and Africa.

At the end of the meeting, Deputy PM Gabriel pointed out that such working formats, which provide an opportunity for a direct and pragmatic exchange of views on important topics of mutual interest, will be held in the future.