British News Agency

According to a statement by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, Prime Minister Rosen Jelyazkov held a meeting with U.S. House of Representatives member Pat Fallon at the Council of Ministers.

Jelyazkov emphasized Bulgaria’s determination to strengthen its partnership with the United States and its efforts to ensure regional peace and stability. It was recalled that the progress achieved in areas such as energy, defense, and trade during the Strategic Dialogue session held at the end of last year was reinforced by a decision to elevate the partnership to a higher level.

Describing security and defense cooperation as the backbone of the strategic partnership, Jelyazkov expressed appreciation for the support provided by the United States for the modernization of the Bulgarian armed forces.

In the field of energy, Prime Minister Jelyazkov drew attention to Southeast Europe’s energy security and reaffirmed commitment to the joint project that will use AP1000 technology by the U.S. company Westinghouse for Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant.

The meeting also addressed Bulgaria’s inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. Jelyazkov noted that this is a long-term national priority with broad public consensus.

It was stated that as a result of the efforts of Bulgarian institutions and cooperation with U.S. partners, the “tourist and business visa refusal rate,” a key indicator for visa waiver eligibility, has declined to its lowest level according to recently released data, and that the process is actively ongoing.