Minister Vigenin met with the Assistant Secretary General of NATO, Terry Stamatopoulos
03 April 2014 News
Minister Kristian Vigenin met with Terry Stamatopoulos, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy. The visit of Mr. Stamatopoulos to Sofia is on the occasion of his participation in the opening of the international conference "The Future of NATO," dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Bulgaria’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The Foreign Minister expressed gratitude for the personal contribution of Ambassador Stamatopoulos to the process of Bulgaria's accession to NATO. They discussed the prospects for Bulgaria in terms of its membership in the Alliance and the contribution of our country to the achievement of the common goals of the Allies.
Among the topics of conversation were the preparations to train Libyan troops at the joint U.S.-Bulgarian military training facilities at "Novo Selo" polygon. Minister Vigenin and NATO’s Assistant Secretary General shared the view that the preparation of the National Security Strategy of Libya is essential for achieving lasting stability in the country.
Terry Stamatopoulos informed about the upcoming visit next week of the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, to Bulgaria. For his part, Minister Vigenin pointed out that this visit provides an excellent opportunity to exchange views and ideas for the future of the Alliance in the context of the forthcoming autumn Summit in Wales.
The Foreign Minister reiterated the position of Bulgaria that the furute of NATO is inextricably linked to the Open Door policy. We will continue to actively support the accession of countries to the Alliance, that are sharing the Euro-Atlantic values and can contribute to security and stability in Europe, he said.