Bulgaria and Canada will work to deepen political dialogue

Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, who is on a visit to Canada, held talks in Ottawa with David Morrison, Foreign Policy and Defence Advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry said on January 29. The two discussed priority issues on the bilateral agenda between Bulgaria and Canada.

More than two years have passed since my first visit to Canada and the short-stay visa waiver in Canada. The visa-free travel regime has opened up additional opportunities for contacts between people, business and tourism links between Bulgaria and Canada, Georgiev told Morrison.

For his part, David Morrison stressed to Deputy Minister Georgiev that Canada appreciates the positive and active cooperation between the two countries, both bilaterally and internationally.

The two agreed on the need for high-level political dialogue as a key mechanism for enhancing bilateral partnership. "We need a more regular exchange of high and thighest level visits. We are convinced that through constant and constructive dialogue we can develop our partnership in all areas of mutual interest, including security and defence, energy, trade and investment, science and technology, people-to-people contacts, youth mobility and others," Georgiev said.

“We expect a consensus on the enlargement of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as soon as possible. We hope to receive an invitation and a specific date for the start of the OECD accession negotiations as soon as possible," Georgiev stressed. David Morrison indicated that Bulgaria has Canada's support in its accession process.

Deputy Minister Georg Georgiev also stressed the need to open a Canadian Embassy in Bulgaria. "Canada is the only G7 country with no diplomatic representation in Bulgaria. The opening of a Canadian embassy in Sofia would contribute to more dynamic cooperation in all areas of mutual interest and would give a new impetus to our partnership," Georgiev said, adding that such a decision would be beneficial for both Bulgaria and Canada.

Deputy Minister Georgiev also met with Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Europe and the Middle East, Peter McDougal. "Despite some positive trends in economic and trade relations over the past few years, we consider the achieved levels of cooperation well below the economic and resource potential of the two countries," Georgiev noted, pointing to McDougal that Bulgaria's priority is to increase direct investment in Canada and to expand the volume and diversity of Bulgarian products on the Canadian market, especially the share of high value-added goods.

The two agreed that the implementation of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (SETA) would contribute to the achievement of the objectives of mutual interest. Georg Georgiev and Peter McDougal also discussed the development of the bilateral dialogue, exchanging views on important international issues, including European integration in the Western Balkans, energy security, Bulgaria's accession to the Eurozone, migration and others.

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