site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva Participates in Dubrovnik Forum

108 POLITICS - FOREIGN MINISTER ZAHARIEVA - BALKANS - FORUM

Foreign Minister Zaharieva
Participates
in Dubrovnik Forum


Dubrovnik, September 1 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva took part in the 13th annual Dubrovnik Forum, held here on Saturday. This year's edition is held under the motto "Strengthening Resilience - the Mediterranean, Europe and the Western Balkans". Among the forum's topics are the challenges for the region, connectivity and countering fake news, Zaharieva's Ministry reported.

"The Balkans underwent huge change in only two decades and we continue on the path towards Euro-Atlantic integration, but we must not forget that we have to uphold the democratic values daily," Zaharieva said addressing the participants. She recalled that in two decades, four countries from the region have become EU Member States, two others are candidates and two countries got the green light for starting negotiations. Kosovo will soon get visa liberalization, while Bosnia and Herzegovina is making progress towards becoming a candidate.

Bulgaria's top diplomat gave as an example the Treaty of Friendship, Goodneighbourliness and Cooperation with the Republic of Macedonia. In just five months since its signing, trade has increased by 12 per cent and tourism by 10 per cent, Zaharieva said, wishing Macedonia success with the upcoming referendum about its name.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister stressed the connectivity in the Balkans. Commenting the fake news, she said that the easy access to information, which is an achievement of democracy, can sometimes become a threat to it because often times the public opinion is manipulated.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, called for observing the Bulgarian EU Presidency's motto - "United We Stand Strong". LI/MY

/МЙ/