site.btaPrime Minister Borissov, German Chancellor Merkel Converse over Phone

ESD 20:30:01 27-03-2020
MY2037ES.119
119 POLITICS - BULGARIA - GERMANY - TALK

Prime Minister Borissov,
German Chancellor Merkel
Converse over Phone


Sofia, March 27 (BTA) - In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that the coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented challenge, and overcoming it would be impossible without coordinated joint efforts, the Cabinet press service reported. The two officials discussed the spread of COVID-19 and measures that have proven efficient in mitigating it.

Chancellor Merkel expressed appreciation for Bulgaria's efforts. The conversation focused on the previously discussed topic of Bulgaria's delivering protective equipment to Germany once it meets the needs of its own population and is able to help other European citizens.

Borissov and Merkel also discussed the successfully developed rapid test for the coronavirus by a leading German engineering company. The new test takes only two hours to determine with certainty if a patient is infected with COVID-19 or is already recovering from it. Borissov pointed out that Bulgaria is ready to purchase large quantities of the new diagnostic device, once the German company is ready to supply the European market.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister also noted that the executed actions must go hand in hand with efforts to devise measures at the European level to soften the socioeconomic repercussions of the pandemic, and expressed his belief that united, Europeans can overcome the crisis. RY/MT