Minister Svetlan Stoev: Stability and security in the Eastern Neighbourhood are a priority for Bulgaria
27 May 2021 News
"Stability and security in the Eastern Neighbourhood are a priority for Bulgaria as a country with access to the Black Sea," said Foreign Minister Svetlan Stoev during the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers "Gymnich" in Lisbon in a discussion dedicated to the ongoing conflicts east of the European Union's borders.
Bulgaria welcomes a proactive approach by the EU and a more active engagement in conflict resolution, sustainability building and strengthening political dialogue.
"Close cooperation with the OSCE and the creation of incentives to resolve frozen conflicts must continue. The dialogue with Moscow, with a view to their constructive engagement in the search for a solution to the conflicts in our eastern neighbourhood, should be part of the agenda of EU-Russia relations,” added the Bulgarian top diplomat.
The Gymnich meeting was divided into three working sessions. In the other two, the foreign ministers discussed EU-Africa relations and the prospects and ambitions of the Union's partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.
During a working lunch with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, the ministers emphasised the Kingdom's important role in maintaining peace and stability in the region, including Jordanian hospitality towards the large number of Syrian, Palestinian refugees and refugees from other countries. The recent escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the prospects for finding a lasting solution were discussed.
In a bilateral conversation in the afternoon, Minister Stoev confirmed to Minister Safadi the importance that Bulgaria attaches to its relations with Jordan, as well as the readiness of our country to hold a full-fledged security meeting within the "Aqaba Process".