Visit to Bulgaria by Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ryuji Yamane

May 7, 2012
Japanese

From Friday, May 4, to Saturday, May 5, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ryuji Yamane visited Bulgaria, where he met with H.E. Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, and H.E. Mr. Delyan Dobrev, Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria, and had an exchange of opinions with the Bulgaria-Japan Friendship Group at the National Assembly, the Club “Friends of Japan in Bulgaria” and representatives of Japanese companies working in Bulgaria. An overview of the results of the visit is as follows.

Meeting with H.E. Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria (May 4)
(1) Vice-Minister Yamane expressed gratitude for the support provided by Bulgaria in relation to the Great East Japan Earthquake. In response, Minister Mladenov noted that the image presented by the Japanese people as they worked toward reconstruction served as a model for the world, that Bulgaria was grateful for the support it had received from Japan after it changed its political system, and that Bulgaria wanted to cooperate to the extent it could for the reconstruction of Japan.

(2) Both ministers shared the view that their two countries would continue to cooperate for progress on the enhancement of bilateral economic relations and the early start of negotiations on a Japan-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

(3) Minister Mladenov stated that he hoped to forward political dialogue with Japan, given that it was a prioritized partner for Bulgaria and the EU as a whole. The ministers then had an exchange of opinions on regional matters of interest to both countries (North Korea, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, etc.) as well as the issues of denuclearization and nuclear non-proliferation.

(4) Minister Mladenov remarked that he had high expectations for the activities of Japan as a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
Meeting with H.E. Mr. Delyan Dobrev, Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria (May 4)
(1) The ministers shared the view that their countries would cooperate toward the strengthening of bilateral economic relations.

(2) Minister Dobrev explained that in response to interest expressed by the Japanese side, movement had begun on the use of sustainable energy in Bulgaria. In addition, he also expressed the strong will of Bulgaria to work toward developing favorable environmental investments.
Exchange of opinions with the Bulgaria-Japan Friendship Group at the National Assembly, the Club "Friends of Japan in Bulgaria", and representatives of Japanese companies working in Bulgaria
(1) On May 4, Senior Vice-Minister Yamane participated in an exchange of opinions with the Bulgaria-Japan Friendship Group at the National Assembly. On May 5, he participated in an exchange of opinions with the main members of the Club "Friends of Japan in Bulgaria", including former ambassadors of Bulgaria to Japan. Each group on the Bulgarian side expressed gratitude for the support received from Japan until this point, including grassroots grant aid, and expressed expectations for the introduction of technology from Japan.

(2) On May 4, Vice-Minister Yamane had an exchange of opinions with representatives of Japanese companies working in Bulgaria on the economic situation in Bulgaria and the issues faced by each company.

(*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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