site.btaPrime Minister Borissov Attends Seventh Global Baku Forum

107 POLITICS-AZERBAIJAN-PM-MEETINGS

Prime Minister Borissov
Attends
Seventh Global Baku Forum


Baku, March 14 (BTA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov took part in the Seventh Global Baku Forum as part of his two-day working visit to Azerbaijan, the government information service said Thursday. The forum, mottoed "New Foreign Policy", was unveiled by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan at an official ceremony.

Addressing the forum, Borissov said that the European Union is a place which has no alternative with regards to the freedom of speech, democracy and the rule of law. Speaking of Brexit, Borissov said that the European Union has always strived for a Brexit deal and rules and that the European Commission has agreed to revisit the agreement. He added that by now there is hardly anyone that is optimistic on the topic and if the UK exits the European union without a deal this will affect millions of people.

In his wide ranging speech Borissov dwelt on the Bulgarian EU Presidency and the Western Balkans' EU perspective and Bulgaria's key role in resolving the name dispute between Greece and Macedonia by signing a good neighbourliness treaty with Skopje.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister also spoke of two initiatives held during the Bulgarian EU Presidency: a China-CEEC forum and a EU-Turkey high-level meeting.

Borissov further said: "I am convinced that we should all work for a meeting between NATO and Russia, as older people remember the monstrous nuclear arms race." He stressed that an arms race always harms social welfare.

Borissov further noted his excellent relations with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.

On the sidelines of the forum later Borissov met with Moldovan President Igor Dodon. The two discussed the economic relations between the two countries. The Bulgarian Prime Minister said that the Bulgarian community in Moldova is the second largest after that of Ukraine and serves as a bridge between the two countries.

Borissov and Dodon underscored the significance of cooperation in tourism between Bulgaria and Moldova. In 2017, 209,000 tourists from Moldova visited Bulgaria which places the country 10th-11th with regards to the number of tourists who visited Bulgaria.

Later, Borissov and President Ilham Aliyev are scheduled to discuss Azerbaijan's participation in the future Balkan gas hub which Bulgaria plans to build. LI/PP

/СН/