site.btaForeign Minister Kondov Meets with US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Verma

Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov received on Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs United States Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma, the ministry said.

The two officials reviewed the leading elements of the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the US, focusing on security and defence, energy security and diversification, bilateral trade and investment, innovation, countering hybrid threats and disinformation. The issue of assistance to Ukraine was also discussed.

The Bulgarian diplomat highlighted the progress this country has made in meeting the criteria for inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program. The efforts of the Bulgarian authorities in this direction were welcomed by the US and confidence was expressed that the upward trend will continue.

The two sides expressed their readiness to work towards holding the third session of the US-Bulgaria Strategic Dialogue in Sofia soon. The dialogue is an ambitious framework for high-level discussions and helps to develop a strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the US and to intensify interaction in all areas of bilateral relations, the statement said.