Kristian Vigenin held talks with Laurent Fabius in Paris
10 October 2013 News
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Vigenin met with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of France Laurent Fabius at Quai d'Orsay. During their conversation, Minister Vigenin emphasized that the new Bulgarian government considers the establishment of direct, close and constant contact and cooperation with France as our strategic partner as an issue of utmost importance. They discussed various aspects of the bilateral cooperation, including the intensification of political dialogue and exchanges between the two countries, as well as topics related to the activities of leading French companies in Bulgaria.
Minister Vigenin sought support from France to find effective methods and tools within the EU for surmounting and achieving long-term solutions to the problems associated with the influx of Syrian refugees. He noted that Bulgaria faces a major challenges related to the protection of the EU external borders and is responsible and reliable partner, performing its duties and responsibilities.
The Minister highlighted the active cooperation with the European partners and with France in particular towards achieving the objectives of the Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification.
The two ministers also discussed the prospects for Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area. Minister Vigenin noted that Bulgaria fulfills all the conditions for accession.
Kristian Vigenin also pointed out that our country is actively working to solve the problem of Roma integration. Bulgaria is aware of the different aspects of this problem and believes that it can be effectively resolved by constructive cooperation and interaction between the EU Member States and the enduring support of the European Commission. The two ministers also discussed specific ideas for cooperation on the problem of the Bulgarian Roma residing in France, given the particular sensitivity of the French society on the issue.
Minister Vigenin thanked his French counterpart for the confirmed willingness of France to continue to provide expert assistance to Bulgaria for all the topics on its European agenda including the preparation of the Bulgarian rotating presidency of the Council in 2018.
Minister Fabius expressed a positive attitude towards the invitation, presented to him and to the President of the French Republic François Hollande, to visit Bulgaria on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2014. During the conversation, the two ministers exchanged views on current international issues, the situation in Syria and the EU's policy towards the countries of the Eastern Partnership.
Minister Vigenin thanked for the strong and consistent support of France for the nomination of Ms Irina Bokova for a second term as Director-General by the Executive Board of UNESCO.