site.btaBulgarian Environment Minister Takes Part in Conference on Post-war Environmental Reconstruction of Ukraine, Black Sea Region

Bulgaria’s Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov took part in an international conference titled United for Justice. United for Nature on October 20-21 in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, his Ministry said on its website Tuesday. The highlight of the conference was the process of post-war environmental reconstruction in Ukraine and the Black Sea region.

Popov held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Ukraine - Ruslan Strilets, Moldova – Iordanca Iordanov, Romania - Mircea Fechet, and Germany - Steffi Lemke. Popov said that the matter is important to Bulgaria and expressed this country’s readiness to play a leading role in Ukraine’s future recovery. According to him, due to its immediate proximity to Ukraine, its traditionally good historical ties with the country, and its experience and capacity, Bulgaria will be able to contribute to the tackling of the environmental disaster in Ukraine, the Ministry noted.

The forum was also attended by European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius and Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, among others.

According to Popov, Bulgaria has made a significant contribution to the reconstruction process in Ukraine with its commitments to energy and food security. He also highlighted the established partnership between Ukraine, Romania, and Bulgaria in the monitoring and protection of the Black Sea waters following the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in June. Popov also talked about the experience his Ministry and other national institutions have in dealing with the hybrid attack against the new Bulgarian Government and the Bulgarian economy and tourism following the Nova Kakhovka incident.

At a press conference in the Black Sea city of Varna in late July, Popov said that the pollution caused by the blasting of the Nova Kakhovka dam was exaggerated and spread as fake news.