110 POLITICS - CROATIA - FOREIGN MINISTER - VISIT amplified 2

President, Prime Minister,
Parliament Leader
Talk with Croatian Foreign Minister


Sofia, May 30 (BTA) - The visiting Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Davor Ivo Stier met with the President, Prime Minister and Parliament leader of Bulgaria Tuesday during an official visit to Sofia. The talks were dominated by bilateral relations and the processes in the EU.

President Rumen Radev told the guest that Bulgaria and Croatia have a decisive role in confirming the Europeana prospects, peace and economic prosperity in the Balkans, sid Radev's Press Secretariat.

The two sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral relations, gave a high mark to cooperation between Bulgaria and Croatia in formulating common positions within the EU and called for improving the energy interconnection in the Balkans and enhancing the commercial exchange.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov told the Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs that Bulgaria will continue to work actively for the European future of the Western Balkans and to ensure the stability of the region.

Borissov said: "For the Western Balkan countries there is no alternative to their European and Euro-Atlantic integration." He noted that Sofia has been consistent in maintaining this view. He believes that, being Balkan nations, Bulgaria and Croatia are
very well aware of the problems and the processes in this part of the world and can play a leading role in the EU for achieving peace and stability in the region.

One relevant instrument is the South-East European Cooperation Process, which was chaired by Bulgaria last year and is led by Croatia this year, the two officials agreed.

Borissov and Stier discussed their countries' cooperation within the EU. They concurred on the need for a common European energy policy and stressed that Sofia and Zagreb also have an interest in a common European defence policy.

The sides identified infrastructure as a promising area of bilateral cooperation.

During a separate session, Stier and Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Dimiter Glavchev discussed their countries' parliamentary ties, the development of regional partnership, and cooperation within the South-East European Cooperation Process,
the legislature said in a press release.

Glavchev said that Bulgaria's active political dialogue with Croatia and the existing similarity of views between them are an excellent foundation to develop even closer contacts in all spheres.

Glavchev sees potential to promote bilateral cooperation in the economy, investment and tourism. He said that the planned establishment of a direct air link between Sofia and Zagreb will create even better opportunities to bolster these contacts.

National Assembly Foreign Policy Committee Chairwoman Djema Grozdanova told the guest that the process of accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU is a major topic on the Bulgarian agenda.

The sides agreed to hold a joint meeting of the foreign policy committees of the Bulgarian and Croatian parliaments in order to discuss important topics of mutual interest, including Schengen area membership and Eurozone entry. PK/LN/VE
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