site.btaForeign Minister, US Charge d'Affaires Review Bilateral Strategic Partnership

Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev and Susan Falatko, who arrived in Sofia a few days ago to assume duties as Charge d'Affaires ad interim at the US Embassy, reviewed the main aspects of the two countries' strategic partnership and important regional and global matters at a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, the department reported on Friday.

They expressed readiness to proceed with the planning of the 3rd Session of the Strategic Dialogue between Bulgaria and the United States, which will be held in Sofia. According to the Foreign Ministry, the Strategic Dialogue is an ambitious framework for high-level discussions helping to promote the two countries' strategic partnership and strengthen fruitful cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral relations.

Georgiev noted that the Bulgarian government sets priority on the country's inclusion in the US Visa Waiver Program and said that Sofia expects a positive decision soon. The US diplomat hailed the considerable progress achieved by Bulgarian institutions in meeting the criteria for inclusion in the Program and expressed willingness for further productive cooperation in this area.

The two officials also discussed Bulgaria's cooperation with the US in security and defence, energy security and diversification, two-way trade and investments, innovation and new technologies, connectivity and people-to-people contacts.