NEWS

President Iliana Iotova met with Kosovo’s Acting President Albulena Haxhiu. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Summit of the Southeast European Cooperation Process, which was hosted by the Bulgarian head of state.

 

Iotova and Haxhiu discussed opportunities for deepening bilateral relations in a number of areas. An agreement on cooperation in the field of defence is set to be signed.

 

The Bulgarian president thanked Pristina for its policy toward the Bulgarian community in Kosovo, noting that the country serves as a model in this regard. The acting President of Kosovo emphasised that Pristina does not discriminate in the integration of different communities and strives to protect their rights. Iliana Iotova expressed hope that Bulgarian Saturday-Sunday schools would also be opened in Kosovo in areas with a compact Bulgarian community.

 

Albulena Haxhiu expressed her gratitude to President Iotova for Bulgaria’s support on Kosovo’s path toward membership in NATO and the European Union.

 

For projects aimed at improving connectivity between Bulgaria and Turkiye must be viewed as a whole, to be successful, and within the context of closer cooperation in Southeastern Europe. This will bolster both economic development and security in the region, whose strategic importance is growing. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova at a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is on a formal visit to Bulgaria.

Iliana Iotova raised the issue of depopulation in the area along the Bulgarian-Serbian border and highlighted the need for investment to counter the adverse demographic trend.

Iliana Iotova holds a session with the President of our western neighbour Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova

The conversation took place on the sidelines of the Summit of the South-East European Cooperation Process