PM Borissov: Bulgaria Backs Sovereignty, Independence, Territorial Integrity of Eastern Partnership
Countries

Sofia, May 22 (BTA) - Speaking at a plenary at the Eastern
Partnership Summit in Riga, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said
Bulgaria supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial
integrity of the Eastern Partnership countries and visa
liberalization with them provided the necessary conditions are
met, the government information service said on Friday.

Borissov noted that the East European countries should not be
faced with the dilemma of choosing between the EU and Russia.
"The establishment of a functioning democracy, stable
institutions and a strong economy is in the interest both of the
 partners and the EU and of Russia."

Commenting on the Eastern Partnership, Borissov described it as
a process of getting closer to the EU and encouraging the
Eastern neighbours' policies and economies. "It does not seek to
 create new divides in Europe," he stressed.

Regarding visa liberalization, he hailed the progress made by
Ukraine and Georgia and expressed hope for a successful
completion of the process similarly to Moldova, which was
granted visa-free access to the EU in April 2014.

The organization of this Summit less than two years after the
Vilnius one, in the light of the dramatic changes which took
place in the region in the meantime, demonstrates the uniting
power of the Eastern Partnership and its potential to achieve
long-term stability and prosperity in Eastern Europe, said
Borissov.

He added that success is contingent on the capacity and will of
the governments of the partner countries to implement the agreed
 reforms.

The Prime Minister also said: "Bulgaria was among the first EU
Member States to ratify the bilateral Association Agreements of
Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. Those agreements are a recognition
 of the hard work and the progress made by the partner countries
 towards a stable, prosperous democracy in recent years, and I
am confident that this is not the end of our cooperation but an
open-ended process.

"We expect relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan to keep their
upward momentum depending on the extent of the commitments they
can make and the identified shared interests. To Bulgaria,
Azerbaijan is a strategic partner and we are ready for 
constructive participation in finding a mutually advantageous
model of its relations with the EU. I hope that Belarus's
efforts to forge closer ties with the EU will become
irreversible, which would allow it to make better use of the
opportunities offered by the Eastern Partnership," Borissov
said.

He stated firmly that the deepening of relations between the EU
and the Eastern neighbours would bring mutual socio-economic and
 political benefits and boost stability and prosperity in
Eastern Europe.