Bulgaria participated in the sitting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council that took place here on Tuesday. This country was represented by Ambassador Dimiter Tzantchev, Bulgaria’s permanent representative to the EU.

The discussion was focused on the Southern Neighbourhood, relations with Turkey and Russia, the current situation in Venezuela, the Western Balkans, Georgia, Armenia and Myanmar. The EU foreign ministers also spoke via video conference with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

One of the most important topics on the Council's agenda was the EU-Turkey relations. The discussion of the foreign ministers on that matter is part of their preparation for the upcoming EU Council video conference on March 25-26, 2021. In his address, Ambassador Tzantchev said that the thorough and strict implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement on migration is very important to Bulgaria, adding that the EU's financial aid for refugees in Turkey must continue.
   
During the meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the EU foreign ministers underscored the importance of
multilateralism in international relations and of the US rejoining the UN Human Rights Council.

Ambassador Tzantchev expressed conviction that the joint efforts of the EU and the UN High Commissioner will play an enormous part in promoting the respect for human rights on a global scale, adding that the pandemic cannot be an excuse for limiting the democratic space of citizens. He also confirmed Bulgaria's support for the work of High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, and pointed out the need for a close cooperation with the US on the various matters related to human rights protection.
       
High Representative Josep Borrell briefed the Council on the current political situations in Russia, the countries in the
Western Balkans, Venezuela, Georgia, Armenia and Myanmar.