BG

PRIME MINISTER BORISSOV AND US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE WESS MITCHELL DISCUSSED THE PROGRESS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

02.05.2018

 
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov spoke on the phone with US Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell.
 
Mitchell expressed high appreciation for the leadership of the Bulgarian Prime Minister and the Bulgarian Presidency with regard to the countries of the Western Balkans. He underlined the active work on the Euro-Atlantic prospects for these countries and the realization of their connectivity with neighboring European countries. "The United States fully supports all of your initiatives in the region," said Wess Mitchell. The progress of each of the six countries, as well as the challenges in the negotiations between Skopje and Athens and the relations between Pristina and Belgrade, were discussed. Prime Minister Borissov highlighted the need for some of the problems between the Western Balkan countries to be resolved before the 17 May Summit in Sofia so that an agreement can be reached on the implementation of concrete projects.
 
The US Assistant Secretary of State also outlined Bulgaria's efforts to reach the 2% of GDP for defense budget and pointed out that our country can serve as a role-model for other NATO members. "Bulgaria has managed to develop a credible plan to reach this goal, which is welcomed by the Alliance, and is given as a role-model to countries that have not yet been able to prepare their plans," Mitchell said.
 
In the following weeks, the US Assistant Secretary of State is to visit Bulgaria.