Regional cooperation in Southeast Europe is a top priority for Bulgarian foreign policy, caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikolay Milkov said during his participation in the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Applying European values, principles and goodneighbourliness is at the core of all decisions for more effective and efficient cooperation, the Minister added on the fifth day of the participation of the Bulgarian delegation, which took part in an informal ministerial meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Milkov's Ministry reported.
During the meeting, Milkov highlighted the key role of the SEECP and the Regional Cooperation Council as powerful instruments for achieving security, stability and prosperity in the region.
Bulgaria's first diplomat focused on the impact of the war in Ukraine on South-Eastern Europe, as well as the energy and food crises. There is a need to step up efforts to improve connectivity, environmental protection and cooperation in education, science, culture and tourism. Deeper economic integration of the region would bring the countries closer to European standards and would contribute to improving the security of the European continent.
On September 23, Milkov held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Qatar, Hungary, Singapore, and Nigeria.
Milkov and Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi agreed that enhancing political dialogue and contacts contributes to identifying further opportunities for bilateral cooperation in priority areas such as the energy sector, information technology and manufacturing.
The main topic discussed with Singaporean Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan was cooperation in the trade and economic areas. The agenda also included the war in Ukraine and its impact on Europe.
The topic of energy security and the prospects for overcoming dependence on Russia in the energy sector were discussed at the meeting with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto.
Milkov and Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama were pleased with the intensification of bilateral relations between their two countries after Onyeama's visit to Bulgaria back in May. During the meeting, the two ministries signed a Protocol of Cooperation, laying the foundations for institutionalized cooperation.
