Minister Kondov participates in anniversary meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Global Coalition against ISIS

Caretaker Minister Ivan Kondov participates in the meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of the Global Coalition against ISIS. The meeting was hosted by US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, the Foreign Ministry said on September 30.

The ministerial meeting in Washington, at the invitation of the US Secretary of State, is an anniversary meeting marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Global Coalition against ISIS.

"For more than a decade, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS has played a decisive role in defeating the terrorist group wherever it operates and in supporting stabilization efforts in liberated areas," Bulgaria's caretaker Foreign Minister said, stressing that the country remains committed to the coalition's goal of ensuring ISIS's lasting defeat.

Ivan Kondov highlighted the importance of implementing measures against the financing of terrorism in line with the UN Security Council resolutions, which is essential to sever the link between organised crime and terrorism.

He said that an increasing challenge in today's world is the unfolding hybrid and information warfare.

"In this regard, a country- and region-specific approach is needed. As an external border of the European Union, Bulgaria considers counter-terrorism cooperation with the EU's immediate neighbours, especially the Western Balkan countries, a key priority," Ivan Kondov said, adding that workable solutions must be found to tackle the root causes of terrorism.

Earlier in the day, Minister Kondov also held a meeting in Washington with the US Department of Homeland Security's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Affairs, Robert Paschall. The discussion focused on Bulgaria's efforts to join the US Visa Waiver Programme, which will allow Bulgarian citizens to visit the US without visas. One of the main problems in achieving this goal is the high percentage of denied visas for Bulgarians.

Specific steps have been identified that will move Bulgaria forward and lead to a decline in US visa refusals. These steps include clarifying the specifics of the US visa application process to both individual applicants and travel agencies offering to broker US visa applications.

A bilateral expert meeting has been agreed for October, which will deepen the coordination between Bulgaria and the US on lifting of US visas for Bulgarian citizens.