Ivan Kondov

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov stated that the country does not anticipate a rise in migration from the Middle East, and believes that the current situation could lead to a reverse trend.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will visit Bulgaria on December 19, 2024, as announced by the Ministry of Defense. During his visit, he will inspect the Novo Selo training ground and meet with the political and military leadership of the Ministry of Defense.

Bulgaria has made significant progress in reducing the percentage of US visa denials, with only 6.02% of applicants rejected in 2024. This represents a sharp decrease from the previous year, when 11.61% of visa applications were denied, marking the lowest denial rate in the last 18 years.

Bulgaria has made it clear that it is not setting any additional conditions for North Macedonia's European Union membership negotiations, emphasizing that the expectations stem from European agreements rather than Bulgarian demands.

Bulgaria's Acting Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov emphasized that the full security of NATO member states will only be achieved once Ukraine becomes a full member of the Alliance. He made these remarks during the Transatlantic dinner with foreign ministers from the European Union and NATO, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov recently discussed the prospects of visa-free travel to the United States with US Assistant Secretary of State James C. O'Brien. During the conversation, Kondov highlighted the steps Bulgaria has taken toward achieving this goal, amidst ongoing discussions about Romania's progress in the same area.

During his visit to New York, Bulgaria's Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov participated in the G-7+ meeting of foreign ministers focused on supporting Ukraine's energy sector, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press center.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is set to request approval from member states to use supplied weapons for deep strikes on military targets within Russia. Speaking ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Kuleba emphasized the importance of obtaining permission to target what he termed "legitimate military targets" deep inside Russia.

Today, President Rumen Radev signed a decree confirming the appointment of an interim government in Bulgaria. The new caretaker cabinet, known as "Glavchev 2," will be sworn in before the National Assembly, with only three changes in its composition. Atanas Ilkov, the head of the National Police, will replace Kalin Stoyanov as Minister of Internal Affairs.

President Rumen Radev is set to issue a decree for the appointment of the new interim government, led by Dimitar Glavchev, tomorrow, following a meeting with Glavchev. The acting prime minister presented the composition of his second term cabinet (see bellow), and Radev expressed appreciation for his efforts to reduce political tensions and ensure fair elections.