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Bulgaria applauds Ghana’s democratic
dispensation
Accra, July 12, GNA - Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on
Thursday applauded Ghana’s democratic stance saying it was
encouraging that Ghana’s 50th Independence Celebration
occurred when it was actively involved in fostering peace
and security, good governance and human rights in Africa.
President Parvanov made the remarks at a meeting on
Wednesday with Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nana
Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is leading a government
delegation to Bulgaria and Russia.
Speaking at the seat of government in the Bulgarian capital,
Sofia, President Parvanov accepted Ghana’s call for the
improvement of the relations between Ghana and Bulgaria to
further strengthen the political and cultural relations
between the two countries and also expand the trade and
investment. The Bulgarian President extended an invitation
to President Kufuor to pay a visit to Bulgaria.
Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo, commended Bulgaria’s
accession to the European Union. He recalled that the
relations between Ghana and Bulgaria had been cordial since
the 1960s when Ghana was under the presidency of Dr. Kwame
Nkrumah, who paid a visit to the then People’s Republic of
Bulgaria which resulted in increased co-operation between
the two countries, especially in the field of education. He
urged Bulgarian investors to take advantage of the stable
political situation in Ghana, her democratic environment
based on the rule of law and the favourable macro economic
outlook of the country.
Earlier, at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Sofia, a Protocol for the Establishment of Bilateral
Consultations to promote friendly relations and co-operation
between Ghana and Bulgaria was signed.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Bulgaria, H.E. Mr. Ivaylo Kalfin, signed on behalf of the
Government of Bulgaria, while his Ghanaian counterpart Nana
Akufo-Addo signed for Ghana.
By signing the Protocol, the two countries have agreed to
establish a process for bilateral consultations at
diplomatic levels that will constitute a useful mechanism
for promoting their bilateral dialogue and cooperation on
regional and international issues.
Discussions between the two Ministers covered matters of
mutual interest and related to economic, trade, cultural and
political issues, with special emphasis on the impending EU-Africa
Summit and the situation in Kosovo.
Nana Akufo-Addo stated the determination of the Kufuor
Administration to revive and expand the links with the new
democratic Bulgaria which have gone into substantial decline
since the overthrow of the Nkrumah government in 1966.
The Minister also met with the Chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee of the 240 member Bulgarian National
Assembly, Dr. Solomon Passy, MP. Discussions touched on the
possibility of forging links between the parliaments of the
two countries.
Dr. Passy acknowledged Ghana as a country committed to
strengthening democracy and propagating the values and
principles of democratic governance across Africa.
The Minister and his delegation has since left for Moscow,
Russia.
GNA
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