Bulgaria, Slovenia Together Should Do Their Best to Ensure That Western Balkans’ European and Euro-Atlantic Perspective Continues
25 October 2018 News
“I am glad that Bulgaria and Slovenia are sharing such a common vision and a common view on the issues that are of the greatest importance to Europe and the rest of the world,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva said at a joint press conference with her Slovenian counterpart Dr Miro Cerar, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria at her invitation.
Zaharieva greeted her guest and pointed out his personal contribution to the setting up of a Slovenian Embassy in Sofia, which will be opened later today in the presence of both deputy prime ministers.
At their meeting today, the two top diplomats exchanged opinions on such issues as Brexit, the migration crisis, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, and noted their shared support for the European integration of the Western Balkans, Minister Zaharieva told reporters. “The most important thing we agreed upon is that as neighbouring countries that understand the region and sincerely support its European and Euro-Atlantic future, we should do together everything we can to ensure that support for these States will remain as intensive as it was during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU,” Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
“In Slovenia we believe that the Bulgarian Presidency was held at an excellent level in all aspects. You raised the most topical and real questions, among them the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans in the European and trans-European alliances. Slovenia is convinced that these processes should continue,” Minister Cerar said.
The two top diplomats shared the view that despite the positive data about growing economies and trade in recent years, there remains potential in this sphere between Bulgaria and Slovenia that has not been utilized. In Zaharieva’s words, the most promising areas for cooperation are high technologies, the automotive industry, agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, and tourism. She went on to add that the opening of the embassy in Sofia as well as the upcoming appointment of a trade representative at the Bulgarian Mission in Ljubljana will provide a fresh impetus to business relations. Zaharieva noted that the available data indicate that after the opening of a direct air link between Sofia and Ljubljana in March, the two countries’ tourist exchange grew by 20%, demonstrating yet again how important direct links are for the people.
Minister Cerar agreed with her, noting the existing great potential in the sphere of investments. “I would like many Slovenians to come here and to learn about your natural wealth, cultural and historical heritage, and your cultural and ethnic diversity, in other words all that attracts tourists from all over the world today. You have given to our Europe a beauty we can all share,” the Slovenian Foreign Minister added.
During their plenary talks today, Zaharieva and Cerar discussed the possibility of the two countries exploring cooperation in opening joint diplomatic missions in other countries, such as the African region.
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