Bulgaria Interior Vows Deeper Cooperation with Western Balkans

Interior Ministers of Macedonia - Gordana Jankulovska - and Bulgaria - Tsvetan Tsvetanov (right) - met in Sofia Thursday. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria favors the EU integration of Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov has declared at an official meeting in Sofia.

Tsvetanov reiterated Bulgaria's backing for the EU-inspired reforms in the Western Balkans during the third meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe.

The meeting taking place on May 20-21, 2010, in Sofia under the auspices of the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office, and is hosted by Tsvetanov.

“Bulgaria will continue to support Bosnia and Herzegovina as an independent, stable, and multi-ethnic country, progressing towards its European future and Euro-Atlantic integration,” Tsvetanov said stressing Bulgaria's willingness for cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina in every aspect.

Meeting later with his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic, he also said that soon EU citizens will be able to enter Serbia only with ID cards, without having to use passports. Dacic agreed with Tsvetanov and expressed his hope that there will be reciprocity by the EU in terms of liberalizing the visa regime for Serbian citizens.

On Thursday, Minister Tsvetanov and his Macedonian counterpart, Gordana Jankulovska, agreed that the cooperation in the police and justice field between the two countries is an example for successful interaction in the region.

The Bulgarian Chairmanship plans two working sessions for the meeting in Sofia of the Committee of Ministers of the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe, according to the Convention Secretariat.

During the first session the respective Ministers will review the progress in the implementation process of the Convention and outline further actions to be taken towards its full implementation.

The second session will be dedicated to discussions about the aspects of the Convention as a modern instrument for information exchange and effective police cooperation in the region.

The meeting in Sofia will be the concluding event of the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office. The Republic of Macedonia is the next Contracting Party to hold the Chairmanship for a period of 6 months.