Foreign Minister Zaharieva in Kiev: Bulgaria supports Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic orientation

Bulgaria fully supports Ukraine for the political and economic integration in the Euro-Atlantic area, as well as in its territorial integrity, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said to her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on the first day of her visit to Ukraine on September 17.

According to her, a bridge for the long-term relations between the two countries are over 200,000 ethnic Bulgarians - one of the largest Bulgarian historical diasporas abroad. The two ministers agreed to open a Bulgarian high school in Odessa and a Ukrainian cultural centre in Sofia as soon as possible.

"In the face of Bulgaria, Ukraine has a reliable partner which consistently supports you for political association and economic integration in the Euro-Atlantic area. Bulgaria consistently supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and will continue to do so," Ekaterina Zaharieva addressed her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.

September 17 is the first day of the official visit to Ukraine of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, which begins in the capital Kiev.

Ekaterina Zaharieva held a face-to-face meeting with Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, followed by plenary talks between the delegations of the two countries and the signing of a Plan for Consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Bulgaria and Ukraine.

"An important bridge for the long-lasting and friendly relations between our countries are over 200,000 ethnic Bulgarians - one of the largest Bulgarian historical diasporas abroad. In this regard, I thanked Mr. Kuleba and shared that we appreciate the decree of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in July this year for the creation of new regions, through which the Bulgarian-populated Bolgrad region was enlarged and preserved as an independent territorial unit with Bolgrad as a centre, " said Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva after meetings at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

"Bulgarians in Ukraine are part of my country's national wealth. We agreed to resolve all issues of Bulgarian language teaching together in a constructive spirit," said Minister Kuleba.

The two ministers agreed to open a Bulgarian high school in Odessa and a Ukrainian cultural centre in Sofia as soon as possible.

Zaharieva congratulated Ukraine on obtaining the status of NATO partner with expanded opportunities in June 2020. An example of our support is the contribution and the leading role of Bulgaria in the NATO Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen - our country accepted for rehabilitation 78 Ukrainian servicemen at the MMA hospital base in Hissarya.

"I thank Bulgaria for its constant strong support for our Euro-Atlantic path. I am glad that today we managed to pay homage to the monument of the great Bulgarian educators Cyril and Methodius, who brought the Cyrillic alphabet to our country and to this part of Europe," said Minister Dmitry Kuleba. .