site.btaDeputy Foreign Minister Tells US State Department that Bulgaria Expects to Receive Starting Date for OECD Membership Talks

March 15 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister
Georg Georgiev held talks with senior officials of the US
Department of State in Washington on March 14, the Foreign
Ministry reported. He conferred with Peter Haas, Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Economic and
Business Affairs, and Matthew Boyse, Deputy Assistant Secretary
at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.

Georgiev and Haas discussed Bulgaria's bid to join the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The guest noted that Bulgaria has proven its adherence to the
principles espoused by the OECD countries: an open market
economy, democratic pluralism and respect for human rights. He
recalled that obtaining an invitation to start OECD membership
negotiations is a major political priority for the country. The
Bulgarian business community is also in favour of OECD
membership.

"Bulgaria expects to receive a date for starting negotiations
for accession to OECD as soon as possible," Georgiev said. "Such
 an invitation will add impetus to our efforts to reach OECD
standards." He believes that the US partners will appreciate his
 country's efforts to prepare for membership.

During a separate session, Georgiev and Boyse expressed their
satisfaction with the high level of dialogue between Bulgaria
and the US and stressed the two sides' shared desire to keep up
that dialogue. They considered Bulgaria's possible inclusion in
the US Visa Waiver Program, cooperation in security and defence,
 Bulgaria's expected accession to OECD, the signing of a
bilateral social affairs agreement, and partnership for energy
security. IG/VE


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