Minister Kristian Vigenin reported on the work results since the beginning of his term
19 December 2013 News
"We promised that we will work for continuity in the foreign policy and I think that to a great extent we accomplished our goal. The focus was changed a bit as we directed our efforts towards the areas we considered to be undervalued in recent years." This was said by Minister Kristian Vigenin, who presented today to journalists a report on the activities of the Foreign Ministry during the six months since he assumed office.
In pursuance of the priorities set at the beginning of the term, the role of our country in various formats of regional cooperation, such as the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the SEECP, is enhanced. During Bulgaria’s Chairmanship-in-Office of the BSEC starting on 1 January 2014, we will closely cooperate with Romania and Greece, and a meeting of the three foreign ministers is due next year in Thessaloniki.
The bilateral relations were also strengthened, particularly with the immediate neighbors of Bulgaria. I have visited almost every country in the region or met with the respective foreign ministers at various international forums, reported Minister Vigenin. At the beginning of next year there is a planned visit to Montenegro and Serbia's Foreign Minister is due to visit Sofia, he added.
In the last six months a number of measures were taken towards guaranteeing Bulgaria’s more active participation in the European policy and decision-making, which are important for our country. A review of the activities of the European Affairs Council was conducted and certain changes in the rules by which it operates are due to be made in order to make its decisions more transparent, said the Foreign Minister. He pointed out that one of the objectives is to achieve a better coordination with the Bulgarian MEPs who must receive timely information regarding the Bulgarian positions.
The preparations of Bulgaria for the rotating EU presidency in 2018 have already started. A diplomat from the MFA will be sent to Athens during the Greek rotating presidency, we also have an invitation from Slovakia, we rely on the active support of France and Italy, added the Foreign Minister.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ activities as regards the foreign and economic policy were expanded. A relevant Directorate was created in the diplomatic institution, the coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Energy was also improved. After establishing a direct contact with the tourism sector, the problems with the consular services to foreign nationals were resolved. The Bulgarian consulates will fully assume the flow of tourists who want to obtain visas and the exported visa centers will be an addition to it, explained Kristian Vigenin.
With the adoption of the new Rules of Organisation and the Regulations for career development, the legal framework of the activities of the MFA was completed. At the initiative of the Foreign Ministry, an interdepartmental working group has started working on drafting the Law of the Translation Services, and the work on the amendments to the Law of the Diplomatic Service is almost finalized.
In his report on the work done since the beginning of his term, Minister Vigenin noted that the welded deficit in the budget of the Ministry of almost 7 million lev at the end of the year has decreased to just under 4 million lev, while the set revenues have exceeded with over 7 million lev. He expressed hope that the gradual stabilization of the financial condition will enable in the coming years to re- open some overseas missions of Bulgaria. In 2013 the government decided to restore the work of the Embassy in Mongolia, the proposal for the resumption of the activities of the Consulate General in Milan is also due to be voted by the Council of Ministers, the Foreign Minister added.