Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Zaharieva met with her Palestinian counterpart

Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva met with her Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki in Sofia, the Foreign Ministry said on September 2.

Minister Zaharieva briefed minister Maliki on the position of Bulgaria and the EU regarding the Middle East peace process. "The current standstill is a cause for serious concern. As a result of the lack of political perspectives, we may be witnessing new outbreaks of violence and tension in both Gaza and the West Bank," the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister said.

She said that at the heart of the solution is the resumption of open and direct negotiations between the two sides, as well as compliance with the Oslo and Paris international agreements.

Bulgaria and the EU reaffirmed their support for finding a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principle of the two countries to co-exist in peace and security.

We call for refraining from any action that may worsen the situation in the region, added Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Minister Maliki stressed that security and peace between Palestine and Israel affect not only the region but the whole world. He thanked Bulgaria and said that our country" could be a bridge in the Israel-Palestine relations".

We have many years of cooperation in education. Over 5,000 Palestinians have graduated in Bulgaria and they are the bridge between us," Minister Zaharieva said.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of a Bulgarian consul visiting Ramallah twice a week in order to facilitate the issuance of visas for Palestinian citizens.

The two ministers agreed to hold the first meeting of the Bulgarian-Palestinian Cooperation Commission next year. It will review all agreements signed between the two countries and establish a clear agenda for future co-operation.

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