US Ambassador thanks Bulgaria for the adequate anti-epidemic measures

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva received the US Ambassador to Bulgaria, Herro Mustafa, the Foreign Affairs Ministry press office said on April 30.

"The Bulgarian government is doing exceptionally well in the fight against the coronavirus, and thanks to the anti-epidemic measures taken, you are able to successfully keep the spread curve flattened," Ambassador Mustafa said.

She also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff, who, 24 hours a day and in real time, inform all diplomatic missions accredited in Sofia of the measures taken by the Bulgarian authorities to address the pandemic, providing information on any inquiries to the embassies.

"Your people answer over 100 questions a day, sent by diplomats. They are great," Ambassador Mustafa said.

Minister Zaharieva noted the assistance of the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development, who donated $ 500,000 to Bulgaria to assist in the fight against the coronavirus. Ambassador Mustafa told the meeting that the United States would provide more medical supplies. "I thank the United States for the support they have been providing to Bulgaria during this crisis," Minister Zaharieva said.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister and the US ambassador agreed that the lifting of restrictions related to the coronavirus should be phased out in order to avoid the risk of further spread of the disease. In this regard and in connection to the interest by many Bulgarian students in the Work and Travel programme, Ambassador Mustafa said that student brigades have not been cancelled at the moment, but only postponed, and the embassy will inform the public once a decision is made.

The two discussed a wide range of issues on the international agenda, paying special attention to the positive steps taken with regard to the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans and the fight against disinformation.