Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva talks in Warsaw with her Polish equal number, Jacek Čzaputovič
11 March 2019 News
‘We Bulgarians have a century-old bond with you Poles, whom we regard as our trusted and sincere friends.’ It was with these words Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva addressed her Polish colleague Jacek Čaputovič. Bulgaria’s top diplomat is in Warsaw on a one-day official visit.
‘Your first overseas visit as a newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs a little over a year ago, Jacek, was to Bulgaria. Meanwhilen, crucial things have happened. We realized our first Presidency of the Council of the EU, while you celebrated the 100th anniversary of the restoration of your independence. In 1918, Bulgaria was among the first countries in the world to recognize independent Poland and to establish diplomatic relations with it,’ Zaharieva pointed out. ‘You realize that a meeting between friends with a century-long history of their relationship stands on a solid foundation.’
The Ministers noted the excellent levels of their visible trade, which has reached a value of EUR 1.7 billion, as well as the fact that of the countries in the European Union, Poland is the one with the biggest number of students learning Bulgarian, which is taught at seven Polish universities.
During the first nine months of 2018, 396,682 Polish nationals had visited Bulgaria. That is more than the number of Polish tourists traveling to Bulgaria in all of 2017.
Another expression of these century-old ties and ascending economic trends is the fact that in 2019, Bulgaria will open its fifth honorary consulate in Poland, that in Krakow. Krakow is the city that provides, through the name of Władysław III Warneńczyk, a natural bond between Bulgaria and Poland.
‘Bulgaria is a friend and an important partner within the EU and NATO. We are glad that you are part of the Berlin process, because you have good standing and a strong influence in the Western Balkans. Congratulations on your Presidency and your persuasiveness, and I hope that this year the EU will start negotiations with Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia on their accession,’ Minister Čaputovič said.
‘It is important that we have concrete results with respect to the Western Balkans and I appreciate the fact that your initiatives as host of the summit meeting in the framework of the Berlin process were focused on specific subjects, such as youth and connectivity. The infrastructure in the region is very basic. It is important that we implement all concrete measures of the Sofia Agenda, adopted by the EU leaders at the close of the Bulgarian Presidency,’ Minister Zaharieva said.
The two ministers also discussed the Eastern Partnership, current developments of the Brexit process and the protection of the rights of Polish and Bulgarian expats in the United Kingdom, as well as the modernization of our armed forces. Poland also expressed support for Bulgaria’s application for membership of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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