Meeting of Minister Daniel Mitov with the Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Foreign Affairs Ganna Gopko
08 February 2016 News
The Bulgarian-Ukrainian bilateral relations and the situation in the Black Sea region were at the focus of the meeting of Minister Daniel Mitov with a group of Ukrainian parliamentarians, led by the Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Foreign Affairs Ganna Gopko.
Minister Mitov expressed Bulgaria’s strong and consistent support for the independence and the territorial integrity of Ukraine and discussed with Mrs. Gopko and the Ukrainian MPs the crisis in east Ukraine through the prism of the Minsk agreements and the need for their full implementation.
Minister Mitov reiterated Bulgaria’s support for the European orientation of Ukraine and welcomed the progress of Kiev in implementing reforms. He emphasized the need for further efforts in areas such as rule of law, fight against corruption and organized crime, minority rights. The Foreign Minister expressed Bulgaria’s support for the visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens by the EU and declared our readiness to provide expert assistance to Ukraine on topics and areas of our capacity and experience.
The Foreign Minister discussed with the Ukrainian guests the situation of the Bulgarian national minority in Ukraine and noted that over 200 000 Ukrainian citizens with Bulgarian ethnicity will continue to be a bridge of friendship and cooperation between Bulgaria and Ukraine. Daniel Mitov expressed hope that Ukraine will continue to pursue a balanced policy to protect the rights of ethnic Bulgarians to study their mother tongue.