Meeting Between Mr. Yohei Kono, Minister for Foreign
Affairs,
and the Vice President of Bulgaria
(Summary and Evaluation)
June
9, 2000
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1. Date, etc.
On June 7, for approximately 20 minutes beginning at 13:40, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between Mr. Yohei Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Kavaldgiev, Vice President of Bulgaria.
2. Summary of meeting
(1) Mr. Kono expressed thanks for Vice President Kavaldgiev's attendance at the joint funeral, while Vice President Kavaldgiev expressed his condolences.
(2) Mr. Kono stated that relations between the two countries had traditionally been amicable, that Japan considered Bulgaria to be a friend, and that hitherto it had been actively extending economic cooperation and had hosted the High-Level Conference on Southeastern Europe in May this year. He said that Japan would continue to take as much interest and extend as much cooperation as possible in pursuit of the stability and development of Southeastern Europe, including Bulgaria.
(3) Vice President Kavaldgiev stated that Bulgaria regards the importance of its relationship with Japan as being on a par with its relationships with the European Union, NATO countries, and the United States; that Bulgaria is deeply grateful for the economic assistance received from Japan during the painful periods of the Bosnia conflict and the Kosovo crisis; and that Bulgaria is looking to the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit to do something for the stability of Southeastern Europe. He invited Prime Minister Mori and Mr. Kono to visit Bulgaria.
3. Evaluation
(1) Bilateral relations: Bulgaria, with which Japan has traditionally enjoyed friendly relations, expressed anew its position of attaching importance to the relationship with Japan. This was also shown by the fact that the delegation sent to attend the joint funeral being held for the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi was the highest-level delegation (headed by the Vice President) of any of the Central and East European countries.
(2) Assistance for Southeastern Europe: Through this meeting Japan was able to convey directly, to a country forming part of Southeastern Europe, its stance of active assistance for the region. In addition, the Bulgarian side also expressed its expectations that the stability of the Southeastern Europe region would be discussed at the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit.
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