Bulgaria, Palestine Agree on More Active Cooperation in Economy, Education
13 November 2020 News
Bulgaria and Palestine will work to accelerate bilateral ties with a focus on the economy, tourism, education, and the possibilities for education that Bulgarian universities offer.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva and Riyad al-Maliki, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, agreed. Ekaterina Zaharieva was on her first official visit to Ramallah, where she also held talks with prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.
„I believe that close ties between the people are of fundamental importance for the development of cooperation in various areas. Palestine has been listed as a high-priority country in our Mid-Term Program of Official Development Assistance and Humanitarian Aid for 2020-2024 with a focus on education. Some 5,000 Palestinians have already graduated from Bulgarian universities,“ Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
She and Minister al-Maliki signed an Agreement on Cooperation in Education, Science, Culture, Youth and Sport between the governments of the Republic of Bulgaria and Palestine.
„We are very encouraged by the ties with Bulgaria. We always see possibilities to make them more active and are doing our best,“ Riyad al- Maliki said. He thanked Bulgaria for its support in providing scholarships for Palestinian students in Bulgarian universities.
The ministers paid special attention to economic contacts and the need for the two countries to work for strengthening the ties between businesses and for increasing trade. Efforts are under way on a cooperation agreement between the chambers of commerce of Bulgaria and Palestine. Bulgarian exports amounted o $800,000 in 2019 and $400,000 in the first half of 2020.
„The trade exchange is rather low at this time. I hope to see more Bulgarian products in our market and more Palestinian products in Bulgaria after we establish close cooperation between our chambers of commerce,“ Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
She noted the Palestinians’ interest in Bulgarian tourism, which is encouraged by the Bulgarian consular office in Ramallah. „So far 100 percent of the applicants for a Bulgarian visa have received one. I hope that this interest in Bulgaria will serve as a factor for strengthening economic ties and tourism. I would like to see more Palestinian tourists in Bulgaria,” the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said.
Ekaterina Zaharieva and Riyad al-Maliki also discussed the coronavirus crisis and the situation in the region and the Middle East. Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva highlighted the importance which Bulgaria attaches to relations with Israel and Palestine and to the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict between them.
„We are friends of both countries. I believe that Bulgaria can play an important role as a friend to both sides. We believe that the only means is direct negotiations with Israel in order to achieve a fair and sustainable solution in line with the two-states principle, which solution should be acceptable to both parties,“ Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
During Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva’s talks with Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, the two parties noted their shared willingness to develop and speed up relations in the spheres of business and tourism. Mohammad Shtayyeh highlighted the history of the good Bulgarian-Palestinian relations. The two discussed international issues with a focus on achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.