Minister Kondov is in New York for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly
22 September 2024 NewsForeign Minister Ivan Kondov arrived in New York, where from today to 27 September he will take part in the opening of the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, which this year will be themed ‘Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.’
On the first day of his visit, Minister Kondov participated in the opening of the Future Summit, dedicated to finding solutions for a better future through multilateral cooperation. Ivan Kondov is part of the delegation led by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Summit.
Within the framework of the forum, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister held several bilateral meetings with his counterparts today.
‘The large Bulgarian community in Moldova is a key building block of our bilateral relations and a bridge of friendship and cooperation between our countries.’ This message was delivered by the Bulgarian Foreign Minister at his meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova Mihai Popșoi. He noted that the excellent relations between Bulgaria and Moldova are also based on our common European values and underlined that Moldova's path towards European integration, which Bulgaria consistently supports, creates an additional favourable context for their further dynamic enlargement.
Ivan Kondov also held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. The meeting was a continuation of the telephone conversation between them on 1 September this year, during which Ivan Kondov congratulated him on his appointment a few days earlier as the country’s foreign minister. During their private meeting in New York, the two once again discussed opportunities for maintaining dialogue and interaction on issues of mutual interest — both bilaterally and in the sphere of the current international agenda. The two diplomats were unanimous that the existing long historical tradition in the Bulgarian-Iranian relations is a solid basis for a constructive and constructive future interaction. During the conversation Ivan Kondov used the opportunity to acquaint his interlocutor with the efforts of the Bulgarian government for a successful resolution of the case with the crew of the Galaxy Leader detained in Yemen and expressed hope that in the spirit of the traditionally good bilateral relations the Iranian side could provide valuable assistance for the resolution of this humanitarian case. Minister Kondov and Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the conflict in Gaza and its grave humanitarian dimensions, as well as the possibilities for supporting the efforts of the international community aimed at preventing a possible further regional escalation.
Later, Ivan Kondov also held a meeting with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Igli Hasani. During their talks, the two discussed the dynamics of bilateral relations and expressed readiness to intensify cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Ivan Kondov confirmed Bulgaria's support for Albania's EU accession process and welcomed the country's efforts to strengthen regional cooperation. In this context, the two ministers reaffirmed that the accelerated construction of Corridor VII is a common strategic objective for both countries.
Special emphasis was placed on the role of the Bulgarian national minority in Albania as an important bridge of friendship and a factor for strengthening the mutual trust that exists between the two countries. Minister Kondov expressed the Bulgarian side's satisfaction with the organization and conduct of the census in Albania and the opportunity given to the representatives of the Bulgarian community to freely declare their identity.
The two diplomats also discussed topical issues on the regional and European agenda. Cooperation in the UN Human Rights Council was identified as a common priority, in which Bulgaria and Albania will work together until 2026.