Nickolay Mladenov in Belgrade: Bulgaria and Serbia starting negotiations on a treaty on good neighbourliness
18 December 2012 News
“With Serbia, we are not only neighbours, but also friends who share a common vision – the full integration of all the peoples of the Western Balkans into the EU. Bulgaria will support the reforms in Serbia and dialogue with Priština, which are the two main elements for progress on Serbia’s path towards the EU,” Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov said during his visit to Belgrade. He met with his counterpart Ivan Mrkić and Prime Minister Ivica Dačić.
Minister Mladenov emphasised the need for relations between the two countries to be put on to a modern, European basis. For this reason, Bulgaria and Serbia agreed that as soon as possible, they should sign a treaty on co-operation and good neighbourliness, and should prepare joint government meetings on the model of the existing formats with Greece, Turkey and Romania.
Bulgaria and Serbia can show how two Balkan countries can work constructively, Minister Mladenov said. In turn, his hosts thanked Bulgaria for its support in the EU and expressed readiness to quickly and in a practical and friendly way, resolve open issues with Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that as part of the bilateral dialogue, an improvement to the situation of the Bulgarian minority in Serbia would be sought. I am convinced that in the framework of the law, our compatriots can enjoy their rights to the fullest extent and contribute to the economic prosperity of their regions, he said.
At the end of his visit to Belgrade, Minister Mladenov spoke with representatives of Bulgarian organisations from various parts of Serbia. At the meeting, there was a discussion on the holding of a business forum to encourage Bulgarian investment in regions with a Bulgarian national minority, as well as support for specific training for Bulgarian organisations.
During his visit, Minister Mladenov and his Serbian counterpart signed a protocol on the exchange of ratification documents on a social security agreement between Serbia and Bulgaria. The agreement will enter into force on February 1 2013 and will facilitate the implementation of rights in the field of social and health insurance.