Foreign Minister Mitov Confers with PACE's Rapporteur for Post-monitoring Dialogue with Bulgaria Matusic

Sofia, June 4 (BTA) - Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov conferred
here with Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's
(PACE) rapporteur for post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria
Frano Matusic, who is on a working visit to Bulgaria, said
Mitov's Ministry in a Thursday press release. The two discussed
cooperation between Bulgaria and the Council of Europe, along
with topics on the European and international agendas.

Mitov noted the existence in Bulgaria of a clear and coordinated
approach towards achieving progress in high-priority areas.
There is strong political will and decisiveness to overcome the
problems and carry out reforms in the judicial system, guarantee
media freedom and amend the Election Code, Mitov said.
According to him, together with applying the criteria, Bulgaria
is striving to respond to the new geopolitical challenges.

Matusic said that PACE's Monitoring Committee appreciates the
progress made, along with the political will for completing the
undertaken reforms. He also noted PACE's readiness to conclude
its post-monitoring dialogue when Bulgaria presents clear
arguments and results to this effect.

Bulgaria makes and will continue making additional efforts in
the problematic areas, regardless of whether they are subject to
PACE monitoring, Mitov said.

The two discussed the priorities of this country's upcoming
chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe, which Bulgaria will take over from Bosnia and
Herzegovina this November. Bulgaria will work towards affirming
the rule of law, protecting human rights, guaranteeing freedom
of speech and the functioning of democratic institutions.

Among the topics of the meeting were the crisis in Ukraine,
migration pressure and the latest developments in Western Balkan
countries. Mitov and Matusic also agreed that the current
challenges before the international community, such as the
impact of external factors on media freedom and the contemporary
forms of terrorist activity, call for new forms of cooperation
and partnership between countries so that democratic values can
be protected.