Valentin Tserovski Meets with Macedonian Minister of Self-Government Alexandar Geshtakovski

Regional Development and Public Works Minister Valentin Tserovski met today with the Macedonian Minister of Self-government Aleksandar Geshtakovski. The two sides discussed cross-border cooperation between Bulgaria and Macedonia and the support that experts of the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works can offer their colleagues in the utilization of EU funding. They agreed to draw up a Joint Programme Document for 2004-06 to identify the priorities in cross-border cooperation and utilization of European Commission funding. During the meeting the two sides underscored the role of the Bulgarian-Macedonian Euro-regions for three of which framework agreements have been signed. In his capacity as co-chair of the mixed Bulgarian-Macedonian intergovernmental committee for trade and economic cooperation, Tserovski stressed that the commission has not met since 2000. Macedonia is expected to name a chair of its side of the committee (the new government has not appointed its representative to the committee yet). Other issues on the agenda were Corridor VIII which is of major importance for the economic development of Macedonia, and the Bourgas-Vlore oil pipeline. Tserovski shared his idea for a trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Regional Development of Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia, to specify the government positions for the implementation of the Bourgas-Vlore oil pipeline project. Public Relations and International Activity Directorate