Ekaterina Zaharieva

Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva welcomed the elevation of relations between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to a strategic partnership during the 23rd meeting of the two organizations' foreign ministers.

Turkey's foreign minister held phone conversations with his Hungarian, Lithuanian and Bulgarian counterparts on Aug. 13, according to a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto discussed recent matters related to the Eastern Mediterranean.

Bulgaria had the opportunity to veto the talks between North Macedonia and the EU if it wanted to do so. However, this country did not do it. Moreover, it is working towards our EU accession, North Macedonia's former Premier and leader of the Social Democratic Union Zoran Zaev said in a TV interview. 

Bulgaria will receive about 15 billion euros from the EU to tackle the coronavirus crisis, of which 3.3 billion will have to be repaid within 30 years. The rest will be free. This was said to BNT by Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva.

"I hope and expect that in a coordinated manner and in accordance with the specifics of each of the countries, the movement within the European Union and within neighboring countries, which have a similar epidemiological risk, will be restored on June 15. This was what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva said in response to a question by journalist.

Ukraine lodged an official protest on Wednesday, after Bulgaria's parliament criticised a planned reform to divide the Bolhrad region in Ukraine's southern Odessa district into five sections. The area is home to a large ethnic Bulgarian community.

Bulgaria and Serbia have partially opened their border crossings for citizens living in the border areas. These people will be able to work in the other country without being placed under mandatory quarantine, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva has asked the Committee on resolving historical issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia to resume work, albeit remotely. Recently, there have been over 100 publications about Bulgaria in North Macedonia. The anti-Bulgarian theme is present in the pre-election situation in the country.

I have spoken with US Ambassador to Sofia Herro Mustafa and she informed me that the summer work and travel programs for students were not canceled but postponed until May 12, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva said.

As General Mutafchiiski said earlier: "Thousands of students are not getting ready to go anywhere."

Students need to cool off their enthusiasm.

The US has delayed this program and the issuance of visas until May 12, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said.
She explained that there are around 50-60 000 seasonal workers from Bulgaria every year.