Bulgaria, U.S. agree to establish strategic dialogue

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry here on Thursday agreed to establish a bilateral strategic dialogue and deepen cooperation in four key areas.

According to a joint statement after the talks, the strategic dialogue will include regular meetings in Washington and Sofia to discuss and make further progress on the range of bilateral, regional and global issues on which the United States and Bulgaria have a shared interest.

The two countries also agreed to collaborate through working groups focused on four areas, including security and defense, energy security, rule of law, and education and people to people ties.

In the field of security and defense, Bulgaria and the United States agreed to work to enhance regional security, including through joint exercises, implementation of NATO's Readiness Action Plan, actions to bolster stability and security, and efforts to promote the transatlantic integration of Southeastern Europe, the statement said.

"The United States also committed to work with Bulgaria and other allies to support Bulgaria's efforts to modernize its military and make it more interoperable with NATO," the statement said.

In the field of the rule of law, the United States and Bulgaria will continue cooperation to curb corruption and combat international organized crime through professional exchanges and shared expertise, the statement said.

As to Bulgaria's energy security, the two countries are committed to improving it through greater diversity of supply and distribution.

Kerry, who also met with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and country's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, told a joint press conference with Borissov that the United States are sending an energy envoy to Bulgaria.

Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 but still heavily relies on Soviet-made weapons, and Russia covers 96 percent of its gas needs. Endit