Azay Guliyev and Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies Vasile-Daniel Suciu in Bucharest, 7 June 2022VIENNA, 9 June 2022 - The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on South East Europe, Vice-President Azay Guliyev (Azerbaijan), has been in Romania and Bulgaria this week for a series of meetings with parliamentarians, governmental officials and representatives of political parties.

“In preparation for my report on the occasion of the OSCE PA Annual Session and in order to enhance my understanding of the region, I have appreciated holding consecutive visits to Romania and Bulgaria,” Special Representative Guliyev said. “My meetings in Bucharest and Sofia have allowed me to explore the viewpoints of the two countries on regional developments and regional co-operation, as well as on the recent domestic political developments.”

In Bucharest, he met with Vice-President of the Senate, Robert-Marius Cazanciuc; Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies, Vasile-Daniel Suciu; Presidential Adviser for European Affairs, Amb. Luminița Teodora Odobescu; Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iulian Fota; Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, Aneta Matei; Secretary of State of the Ministry of Energy, Dan Dragoş Drăgan; Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, including Vice-President Roberta-Alma Anastase; and Romania’s Delegation to the OSCE PA.

In Sofia, meetings were held with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Irena Dimitrova; Deputy Minister of Energy, Danail Nikolov; Deputy Speaker on the National Assembly, Mukaddes Nalbant; and Bulgaria’s Delegation to the OSCE PA.

Romania, 6-8 June

Guliyev’s interlocutors in Bucharest elaborated upon Romania’s relations with Western Balkan countries and shared thoughts on their European Union prospects. All interlocutors welcomed the European Union perspective of the Western Balkan countries, largely viewed as the most effective tool for sustainable regional stability and as a means to advance the reform process.

The meetings in Bucharest were also an opportunity to touch upon the latest developments pertaining to Romania’s accession into the Schengen Zone and Romania’s EU recovery and resilience plan.

The Special Representative praised the Delegation of Romania to the OSCE PA for its dedication and active participation in the Assembly and expressed appreciation to Head of Delegation and Special Representative on Digital Agenda, Radu-Mihai Mihail for having accompanied him throughout the meetings.

Bulgaria, 8-9 June

Azay Guliyev with Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Irena Dimitrova, Sofia, 8 June 2022The meetings in Sofia were an opportunity to discuss Bulgaria’s relations with Western Balkan countries and their European Union prospects. Special Representative Guliyev heard considerations pertaining to Bulgaria’s relations with its neighbour North Macedonia and on developments related to its EU perspective.

Discussions touched upon the domestic political developments following the parliamentary elections and the presidential election in 2021. Special Representative Guliyev further discussed recent domestic political developments, also pertaining to elections in the country.

Guliyev’s interlocutors elaborated on the state of affairs in the EU, discussions further touched upon Bulgaria’s EU recovery and resilience plan.

Special Representative Guliyev commended Bulgaria for organizing the 20th OSCE PA Autumn Meeting scheduled to take place on 14-16 October in Sofia and used the opportunity to praise Bulgaria for its dedication and active participation in the Assembly. Guliyev expressed appreciation to Head of Delegation, Iskren Mitev, for having warmly greeted him in Sofia.

Romanian and Bulgarian interlocutors took the opportunity to underline the importance of the work of the OSCE PA and OSCE in the region and encouraged the Organization to continue its efforts for the benefit of its end users. In this regard, Special Representative Guliyev’s interlocutors expressed their favour for further initiatives to facilitate avenues of regional co-operation, considered as a foundation to ensure good neighbourly relations.

Azay Guliyev with Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Mukaddes Nalbant in Sofia, 8 June 2022In Romania and Bulgaria, the meetings featured considerations on developments pertaining to the war in Ukraine and its impact on the two countries as well as on the region, most notably with regard to the humanitarian and migratory situation since the start of the war, as well as with regard to food security. Guliyev’s interlocutors expressed concern for the high number of refugees heading to neighbouring countries and highlighted the need for a continued concerted approach by the European Union. As a neighbouring country, Guliyev used the opportunity to commend Romania for its efforts in hosting a large number of refugees from Ukraine and underlined that also Bulgaria has showed a co-operative approach, fundamental in such crises. The Special Representative also had the opportunity to discuss these topics with Vice-President and Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, Kristian Vigenin (Bulgaria).

The meetings in the Ministry of Energy in Romania and Bulgaria were opportunities to listen to the impact of the war in Ukraine with regard to energy security. Guliyev’s interlocutors elaborated upon the latest developments and shared remarks on imports of crude oil, natural gas and solid fossil fuels. Discussions also concerned forecasts pertaining to natural gas pipelines, renewable energy sources and in Bulgaria regarding liquefied natural gas.

In Romania and Bulgaria, Special Representative Guliyev took the opportunity to hear considerations on his idea of an inter-parliamentary forum or conference with the participation of OSCE PA Delegations from South East Europe, as a platform to advance regional co-operation, based on the three dimensions of the OSCE PA. An idea that Guliyev also presented during his visits to North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro in May and Bosnia and Herzegovina in March.

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