Kristian Vigenin met with Jean-Claude Mignon
11 July 2013 News
“We value the role of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and followed its work in promoting the principles of democracy and rule of law, particularly in Eastern Europe,” Kristian Vigenin said at a meeting today with the President of the Assembly, Jean-Claude Mignon, who took part in a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Sofia.
We have many views in common with PACE on issues on the agenda of the Assembly, and there is a sound basis for good co-operation, the Foreign Minister said.
The PACE President stated the willingness of the Council of Europe and of the Assembly for closer co-operation with regional organizations such as the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, which would also help to solve the frozen conflicts in many regions.
Kristian Vigenin and Jean-Claude Mignon discussed the situation in the Western Balkans and emphasised the strong support of Bulgaria for the European perspective of the countries of the region.
Minister Vigenin confirmed Bulgaria’s position regarding Macedonia's EU membership and expressed hope that the treaty on good neighbourliness and co-operation between our two countries would soon be signed. The PACE President expressed satisfaction with the role being played by Bulgaria in the region, arguing that "Bulgaria has a very important role in the stability of the Western Balkans".
The two agreed that the procedures for monitoring and post-monitoring dialogue are in need of reform, and focused on the actions on the part of PACE to implement the necessary reforms. Vigenin assured his guest that the government would do what is necessary to address the remaining problem areas in the post-monitoring dialogue, in which Bulgaria has been involved for 13 years. Mr Mignon undertook to decide as soon as possible on a new PACE rapporteur for Bulgaria, which would enable the acceleration of work on the recommendations in the last report.