25.11.2019
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with the leaders of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) during his official visit to the United States of America.
At the beginning of his conversation with IRI President Daniel Twining, Prime Minister Borissov noted that the multi-star generals who had just participated in the ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery, hosted for the Bulgarian delegation, have been trained in 2009 in the US-Bulgarian base in Novo Selo. "I am glad because they know Bulgaria so well, they are real military partners. I hope that we will now build on our relations in the economic, the foreign and the energy spheres with President Trump," said the Bulgarian Prime Minister.
"I visited Bulgaria for the first time when your country was applying to join NATO. I was with Senator John McCain and even then we knew that Bulgaria would be a great ally in NATO. We were right," said the President of the International Republican Institute Daniel Twining. He stressed that there are many threats in Europe at the moment, so he is pleased that Bulgaria is a NATO member and an ally of the United States.
"Bulgaria is a leader in helping other Balkan countries," he said. He added that from December 12 to December 14, the IRI will host a large meeting in Sofia with the US State Department and the Bulgarian government. The main topic of the forum will be the fight against extremism.
In this context, Prime Minister Borissov informed him that next year Bulgaria would host the Aqaba Process." A month ago, I talked with the King of Jordan, we shook hands - we will carry out both processes in Sofia - for counterterrorism and counter-extremism," said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
The Prime Minister thanked the IRI for the fruitful collaboration that has produced good results. The meeting focused on the importance of democratic values for the development and prosperity of every civil society.
"We think of the US as a one whole, and we respect both parties. You are equally close to me - Democrats and Republicans," Prime Minister Borissov said during his meeting with Shari Bryan, Vice President of the National Democratic Institute. The two discussed the results of projects that promote democratic values and the role of the United States in the attainment of freedoms for civil society.
The two institutes are non-governmental organizations that have been working with Bulgaria for many years in the field of knowledge and capacity building in the political science and democratic systems. IRI and NDI cooperate with non-governmental organizations in Bulgaria, focusing on the exchange of experience and expertise.
The International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute were established in 1983.
