Minister Kristian Vigenin participated in the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs,  held on 24-25 June in Brussels. The agenda included talks on the preparations for the NATO Summit in Wales, focusing on Ukraine, Afghanistan and the NATO partnerships.

The first working session focused on NATO’s Open Door policy, which is particularly important for Bulgaria. Ministers reaffirmed that NATO's doors remain open and each of the four candidate countries - Montenegro, the Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, will be assessed according to their individual achievements, and the Alliance will continue to provide assistance as needed.

Minister Vigenin reiterated Bulgaria's support for NATO’s enlargement as an important factor of stability and security in Europe. Regarding the progress of each country, he said that Montenegro is the best prepared candidate that deserves an invitation to start accession negotiations in Wales. As for Georgia, Minister Vigenin said that the firm commitment of the Alliance and the active contribution to its operations are compelling arguments for taking the next step towards membership. "We believe it is necessary to continue to encourage the other two candidates - the  Republic of Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to increase their efforts in order to resolve the outstanding issues on the road to accession," he said. Ministers endorsed the preparation of a strong package of initiatives to support Georgia on its path to membership, as well as the launch of intense and purposeful negotiations with Montenegro aimed at deciding whether to send it an invitation for joining the Alliance by the end of 2015.

Today the ministers continued the preparations for the meeting in Wales, due to take place in a critical moment for the overall security considering the Ukrainian conflict and the rising threats from the Middle East and North Africa. They reviewed the security measures the Alliance has taken and the progress in the preparation of the Readiness Action Plan to enhance the defense of Allies. The importance of the transatlantic bond, especially at a time when NATO is expected to send a strong signal of political determination and unity, was confirmed. Minister Vigenin expressed support for the strengthening of NATO partnerships through initiatives to increase interoperability and political connection with the most involved partners and capacity building in the defense sector for partners in Eastern Europe and Southern Neighbourhood countries, notably Libya.

The meetingof the NATO-Ukraine Commission with the participation of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, focused on the crisis and President Petro Poroshenko’s peace plan to resolve it. The ministers also reviewed the package of support measures for Ukraine, including the establishment of trust funds in support of the reform and the development of defense capabilities.Minister Vigenin positively assessed the appeal of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Federation Council regarding the withdrawal of permission to use the army in Ukraine.He further expressed Bulgaria’s readiness to provide expert support to Ukraine in the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

Last  on the agenda was the meeting with the International Security Assistance Force to maintain security in Afghanistan (ISAF). Ministers approved the operational plans for the launch of a new NATO-led post-2014 Decisive Support mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan national security forces. The condition for the implementation of this mission is the preliminary and timely delivery of the legal framework - the signing of the security cooperation agreement with the U.S. and the Status of Forces Agreement with NATO.