Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Passy and Ambassador Stephen Minikes discussed the Bulgarian candidacy for the presidency of OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe)in 2004 at a meeting in the framework of the international conference on International Security and the Fight Against Terrorism. The Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that his country is working on a plan for preparation for the OSCE presidency with full awareness of the complexity of the issues it involves, and the resources and organization it requires. The US Ambassador expressed a wish to visit Bulgaria, possibly in October this year, and get firsthand idea of the stage of preparation. Such a visit will obviously influence the US position before the OSCE meeting in December when the question of the presidency in 2004 is to be decided. The two talked about other major issues as well, such as the
relations between OSCE and NATO and OSCE and the UN, and agreed that these organizations should work in closer cooperation.