site.btaDefence Minister Confers with Japanese Ambassador Hisashi Michigami

The contribution of Bulgaria and Japan to the global and regional security was discussed Friday at a meeting between caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov and Japanese Ambassador to Bulgaria Hisashi Michigami, the Defence Ministry’s press centre reported.

The two sides discussed bilateral defence cooperation and partnership in the context of NATO. Firm and long-term support to Ukraine and contemporary security challenges in the Black Sea and Pacific regions were also among the topics of the meeting.

Zapryanov and Michigami agreed that there are a number of opportunities to deepen the traditionally good cooperation, including the potential for more intensive exchanges in the field of military education through the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, as well as in the field of crisis management and disaster response. 

The sides expressed their satisfaction with the successful participation of Japanese service persons in the Sea Breeze 24 multinational mine action exercise, which took place in the territorial waters of Bulgaria in September. They also noted that this was the first participation of representatives of the Japanese Navy in an exercise in the Black Sea.

This year marks three anniversaries in bilateral relations: 115 years since the first official contacts, 85 years since the establishment and 65 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations, the Ministry said.