Foreign relations

In September 2018, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 633.4 thousand or by 11.0% above the registered in September 2017, according to the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

Responding to Ankara's announcement that it will proceed with the installation of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in October 2019, Washington has warned of sanctions and repercussions in defense trade.

Turkey and Germany are determined to improve bilateral relations, ministers from the two countries said on Oct. 25.

Founded in 1949 with 12 members from North America and Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has grown through seven rounds of enlargement into a defense Alliance of 29 sovereign nations. NATO enlargement over the years has brought greater stability, prosperity, and cooperation across the Euro-Atlantic region.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci reportedly threatened to resign rather than table any proposal for a solution to the Cyprus issue other than a federal system, Turkish Cypriot media reported on Wednesday.

According to daily Kibris Postasi, cited by Cyprus Mail Online, Akinci made the statement during the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to the north last April.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with the Apostolic Nuncio to Bulgaria, Anselmo Guido Pecorari, the press service of the government announced on 10th of October. The meeting highlighted the good relations between Bulgaria and the Vatican.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, it emerged on Monday.

The UN Human Rights Committee, which monitors implementation by States of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), will meet in Geneva from October 8 to November 2 to review Belarus, Belize, Bulgaria, Guinea, Sudan, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The meetings will be webcast here and #CCPR124 will be the recommended hashtag for the meeting.

UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said that the Cyprus issue is "not insoluble" and that a federal solution would be better for all Cypriots than the "unacceptable" status quo.

Expectations of meaningful negotiations to resolve the Cyprus problem remain low on both sides of the Aegean after Tuesday's meeting in New York between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.