The Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic discussed the possibilities for deepening the cooperation, including in the field of economy and tourism
11 June 2021 News
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Svetlan Stoev and his Czech counterpart Jakub Kulhanek reaffirmed the excellent relations between Bulgaria and the Czech Republic and discussed the possibilities for deepening the cooperation in many spheres of mutual interest.
"We enjoy traditionally good bilateral relations, we share common values within the EU and NATO, there are deep historical and cultural ties between us," said Svetlan Stoev, who received Jakub Kulhanek for a working visit to Bulgaria today.
Topics of discussion included topical issues of bilateral relations, the European agenda, the European integration of the Western Balkan countries, the upcoming summer tourist season and the possibility of a larger presence of Czech tourists in Bulgaria, as well as the opening of polling stations in the Czech Republic for the parliamentary elections for the National Assembly on July 11, 2021
The Bulgarian side appealed to the Czech partners to provide consent for the opening of polling stations outside the embassy in Prague - in settlements where the required number of applications has been met. The Czech Foreign Minister has pledged to resolve the issue in the coming days.
In connection with the current travel measures for the citizens of both countries, the delegations also discussed the possibilities for the implementation of the EU digital certificate for COVID-19. Svetlan Stoev expressed confidence that thanks to the conditions that our country offers, Czech tourists will visit our country this summer.
"The issues we discussed and agreed on will really ease travel in the coming months and Bulgaria will become this destination for Czech tourists that it has always been in recent years," said Svetlan Stoev.
The talks were also attended by Tourism Minister Stella Baltova and Deputy Health Minister Toma Tomov.
Minister Baltova stressed that the Czech Republic is an important economic partner, including in terms of tourism, and that in 2019 Bulgaria was visited by 189,000 Czech tourists. She assured the Czech Foreign Minister of the safety conditions in our country and the anti-epidemic measures undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the World Health Organization. During the summer season, 700 flights from the Czech Republic to Burgas and 160 to Varna are expected.
"Bulgaria is a favourite destination for many Czech tourists who like to stay in your country during the summer," said Minister Kulhanek. The Czech side forecasts that this year its tourists in Bulgaria will reach 200,000 persons. He praised the work done in Bulgaria to ensure the safety of the tourist season and asked to allow Czech tourists in our country 22 days after the first dose of the vaccine. The request of the Czech side is expected to be considered at a meeting of an expert group today.
During the talks, the two ministers agreed to hold a meeting of the Working Group on Economic Cooperation between the two countries as soon as possible, as well as to intensify contacts between the two foreign ministries. Minister Stoev stressed that the two countries have a huge potential for the development of economic cooperation, and his Czech counterpart assessed Bulgaria as a very important and significant partner of the Czech Republic in terms of investment and trade. Jakub Kulhanek expressed satisfaction with the fact that in the first 6 months there was an increase in trade after the decline in 2020 due to the pandemic.
During the meeting, Ministers Stoev and Kulhanek reaffirmed the two countries' strong support for the EU enlargement process and the European path to the Western Balkans. "The European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans is one of the main priorities of the Bulgarian foreign policy," Stoev stressed. He reminded that there is full continuity in Bulgaria's position regarding Republic of Northern Macedonia.
"It is crucial for us to maintain good neighbourly relations and obtain the necessary guarantees for the implementation of the 2017 Agreement," said Svetlan Stoev. He pointed out that Bulgaria is open to active dialogue and assured that in recent days everything possible is being done - both on the Bulgarian side and on the part of Republic of Northern Macedonia - to build a positive atmosphere and restore trust in relations.
"We expect a constructive response from our closest neighbour to find a sustainable and lasting solution that will contribute to the security and prosperity not only of our two countries, but also of the entire region," said our Foreign Minister.
Minister Kulhanek also expressed gratitude for the support and solidarity of Bulgaria in connection with the explosions in Vrbetice. The two ministers stressed that the security institutions of the two countries will continue to cooperate to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident in the Czech Republic, as well as similar explosions on the territory of Bulgaria.
Minister Stoev expressed satisfaction with the talks with his Czech counterpart. He recalled that in 2020 Bulgaria and the Czech Republic marked a significant anniversary - 100 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations.