Bulgaria will continue to support the Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia and Ukraine, closer cooperation between NATO and the EU is needed in the Western Balkans
01 December 2021 News
NATO foreign ministers met with partners Georgia and Ukraine, kicking off the second day of the Alliance's ministerial meeting in the Latvian capital, Riga. The foreign ministers discussed growing challenges in the Black Sea region and Russia's growing military presence on Ukraine's borders.
In an allied format, ministers discussed lessons learned from Afghanistan and opportunities to support global counter-terrorism efforts, including in the reform and resilience process.
Together with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and partners Sweden and Finland, the Allies discussed ways to provide additional support for reform processes and maintaining lasting stability in the Western Balkans.
In his speeches, Minister Svetlan Stoev stressed that Bulgaria supports the Euro-Atlantic integration of Georgia and Ukraine and will continue to assist them bilaterally and multilaterally.
Minister Stoev highlighted the lessons from NATO's commitment to Afghanistan, which should be reflected in the next Strategic Concept.
Our Foreign Minister also confirmed the strategic importance of the Western Balkans for the Alliance and expressed Bulgaria's strong support for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the six countries in the region. He highlighted the need for enhanced NATO-EU co-operation and co-operation in the context of growing threats and challenges to the Western Balkans. The joint active efforts of the two organizations make the region a zone of stability and prosperity, resistant to harmful influences from third countries. Together, we must continue to build on what has been achieved in the region and promote the reform process, the rule of law, the protection of human rights and good neighbourly relations.
Within the framework of the NATO Ministerial Meeting in Riga, Minister Stoev held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the Republic of Northern Macedonia - Bujar Osmani, and Denmark - Jeppe Kofod.