15.08.2023
On 14 August Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Mariya Gabriel attended a working lunch with the heads of diplomatic missions of countries from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region who are accredited to Bulgaria. The event was an initiative of the group of the MENA countries’ ambassadors and hosted by H. E. Mr. Khalid Faqeeh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Bulgaria.
The discussion covered a number of important issues in the field of Bulgaria’s bilateral relations with the countries in this strategically important region and pertinent regional problems. Emphasis was placed on how important it is for the Bulgarian government to expand further and build on the cooperation with the MENA countries that Bulgaria considers important partners both in the national and pan-European context.
Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel recognized the existing significant yet unutilized potential in commercial and economic cooperation. Bulgaria sees opportunities to harness it by the expansion of trade, the promotion of cooperation in the energy sector, the increase of travels and of cultural exchanges, incentives for direct investment into the Bulgarian economy, the exploration of opportunities for a Bulgarian share in investment projects in the countries in the region and development of cooperation in the field of defense industry. Special attention was given to build on the opportunities for these traditional spheres of cooperation to be expanded with win-win partnerships in the sectors of innovation, digital management and artificial intelligence. In this context, it was explained that the relevant units within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were tasked to draw up an exclusive roadmap for the promotion of our cooperation with the MENA countries in areas of shared interest while a planning and coordination process is under way for bilateral visits of the foreign ministers and for political consultations with a number of countries in the region. Preparations are in progress for state visits in and outside Bulgaria.
Special attention was given to other important matters including the crises in Niger, Syria and Yemen; the Mideast Peace Process; and EU-MENA relations on the whole. The ongoing Russian military aggression in Ukraine and the global implications of this cruel conflict were discussed. In this context, special attention was given to Bulgaria’s active role in shaping the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including its part relative to the Middle East and Africa.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel noted that such operational formats that allow for direct and pragmatic exchange of opinion on important issues of mutual interest would be employed in the future, too.
