Greece to Work towards Reopening More Checkpoints along Border with Bulgaria
27 July 2020 News
Speaking in Athens today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva raised the question of the faster reopening as many checkpoints as possible along Greece’s border with Bulgaria, where only the Kulata-Promachon checkpoint is currently in full operation due to the measures introduced by Greece with respect to the coronavirus.
Zaharieva was visiting Athens on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. She discussed the operation of the checkpoints during her meetings with Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“We discussed ways of facilitating movement between our two countries in the context of the coronavirus. I would like to thank Prime Minister Mitsotakis for his commitment to discussing the matter with the Greek team of experts in order for at least one more border checkpoint to reopen,” Ekaterina Zaharieva said after her meetings with Mitsotakis and Dendias. She pointed out that a single checkpoint cannot process the total flow of passengers toward Greece streaming across common border at present and that this creates serious difficulties for travelers.
“I can assure you that our Prime Minister has committed himself to dealing with this issue and that there will be results soon because he understood that this is important not only for the two nations but also for EU communications. The pandemic has placed us in a rather difficult situation at many levels. Researchers have a great responsibility and operate within the frameworks they have set,” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said. “I would like to congratulate you on your effective efforts to tackle the coronavirus. We all have problems but our countries are managing pretty well in general,” Dendias added. Zaharieva asserted that Bulgaria is a safe and secure destination for Greek tourists and went on to invite them to visit the country.
During the meeting with Dendias, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister referred to the need for faster construction of the Rudozem-Xanthi border checkpoint. This facility would not only improve traffic but would also contribute to the economic development of the relevant regions in Bulgaria and Greece.
The two Ministers of Foreign Affairs discussed the full range of bilateral relations within the framework of the strategic partnership, including the construction of the gas interconnector, and assessed relations as excellent. It was agreed to task economic teams with joint work to attract high-tech investment in the region, particularly in the automotive industry.
“The important lesson we need to learn from the coronavirus crisis is how closely interconnected we all are and that we must work together to overcome the repercussions of the crisis. No country can tackle the repercussions of the Coronavirus crisis on its own,” Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
Greece is one of Bulgaria’s most important trading partners. Bulgaria’s trade with Greece reached EUR 3.5 billion in 2019, registering growth of 8.3 percent. Bulgarian exports to Greece increased by 6.5 percent to reach EUR 2 billion. Imports increased by 10.7 percent reaching EUR 1.5 billion. The balance of trade was positive (EUR 461 million).
The two ministers welcomed the decision of the European Council on the EU’s overall budget and the recovery plan for emerging from the crisis, pointing out the importance of the quick preparation of national programs for the plan’s application.
The agenda of the talks also included the European integration of the Western Balkans and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ekaterina Zaharieva and Nikos Dendias confirmed their shared position in support of the European aspirations of the region’s six countries because that would be important for the security of the entire EU. At the same time, it is important for these countries to implement reforms and to respect the principles of good-neighborly relations in their work to accede to the EU.
Referring to the escalation of tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, Ekaterina Zaharieva declared Bulgaria’s support for Greece and Cyprus and reiterated Bulgaria’s position that the sovereign rights of all EU Member States must be respected in full compliance with international law. She expressed hope for de-escalation of the tension between Turkey and Greece and urged the two countries to resolve their disputes in the spirit of good neighborliness and goodwill rather than by resorting to unilateral action.
The Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria and Greece expressed profound regret with the change of the status of the Hagia Sophia church in Istanbul. According to Bulgaria, Hagia Sophia has borne witness of the dialogue between different cultures and religions and has to be safeguarded as part of UNESCO’s world heritage.
Greece was the first country in the region which the Foreign Minister visited after the resumption of physical and diplomatic contacts after the first stage of the Coronavirus crisis. Ekaterina Zaharieva reconfirmed the strategic partnership between the two countries during her meeting with the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
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