site.btaBulgaria Maintains Very Active Dialogue with Qatar and Oman, Foreign Minister Georgiev Says from New York

Bulgaria maintains very active dialogue with Qatar and Oman, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev told a briefing for Bulgarian media in New York on Thursday. Georgiev had separate meetings with the two countries' foreign ministers earlier in the day during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly.

He recalled that Oman's chief diplomat Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi paid a historic visit to Bulgaria in July, when the sides signed an energy memorandum. "That was a good way to start building a body of bilateral agreements and an international legal framework between our countries," Georgiev commented.

With Qatar, Bulgaria has an excellent tradition of bilateral relations, while in the case of Oman, Bulgaria is indebted for helping to rescue Bulgarian sailors whose ship, Galaxy Leader, had been hijacked in the Red Sea, Georgiev noted.

"Bulgaria is a highly valued country for its food industry, farm produce, innovation," the Foreign Minister said. He noted that he and his Omani counterpart spoke about the incipient cooperation with Bulgaria in the field of high technology. Georgiev said Oman shows interest in the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) in Sofia.

Cooperation in science and education will be deepened. "And, of course, we look forward to expanding our horizons, including through diplomatic presence," he added.