site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva, US Assistant Secretary of State Cooper Discuss Advancement of Bilateral Cooperation

Sofia, October 20 (BTA) - The strategic partnership between
Bulgaria and the US and the advancement of cooperation in areas
of mutual interest topped the agenda of talks between Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva and
visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military
Affairs R. Clarke Cooper, the Foreign Ministry said here on
Tuesday.

The two discussed potential for cooperation in the area of
security, including issues related to 5G networks.

The sides noted that the partnership between the two counties
should be developed both bilaterally and within the framework of
 NATO.

They were unanimous that it is of extreme importance for NATO to
 boost its presence in the Black Sea region. Zaharieva
reconfirmed Bulgaria's proposal for the establishment of a
maritime coordination centre in the coastal city of Varna, which
 will serve as a regional coordination centre for the Alliance.

During the meeting, the two discussed topical issues on the
international agenda, including the situation in Belarus and in
the Eastern Mediterranean, the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh and
the EU perspective of the Western Balkan countries.

Zaharieva said that Bulgaria continues to show solidarity with
the people of Belarus and to support the demands of the civil
society for democracy. The Bulgarian Foreign Minister voiced
hope that the conflicts will be resolved by diplomatic means and
 through the mediation of the international community. Of
Western Balkan countries, Zaharieva said that Bulgaria is among
the most consistent supporters of the European perspective of
the region, but its support is not unconditional.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that for Bulgaria,
goodneighbourly relations are a key condition along the path of
European integration. NV/PP