Bulgaria proposes to form a multinational maritime coordination centre to ensure the safety of navigation in the western Black Sea and to host this centre. This is what Prime Minister of Bulgaria Rosen Zhelyazkov said after today's meeting "Peace and Security for Ukraine" in Paris, which he attended at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The Bulgarian proposal envisages the centre to provide permanent maritime surveillance and early warning of potential threats and hostile activities, as well as to enhance the resilience of critical underwater infrastructure in the Black Sea.

"The aim is to establish guidelines for shipping and to carry out monitoring activities - by air and by water - of both critical infrastructure and all potential hostile actions in the Black Sea territory," Prime Minister Zhelyazkov said after his participation in the meeting. In his words, the restoration of commercial shipping is extremely important because it affects not only the bordering countries, but also the entire East-West trade flow. The Prime Minister pointed out that the mine action group in the Black Sea is a good example of how coordination between coastal states can contribute to efforts to strengthen security, safety, stability and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.

Today's meeting in Paris discussed the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine in the context of establishing a stable and lasting peace with all the security guarantees that need to be given to Ukraine, including guarantees for the security of Europe. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov highlighted the format of today's meeting, which involves leaders from across Europe as well as international partners. This, he said, is indicative of the strength of the cause being defended and the path chosen - to establish a lasting, just peace, respecting all principles of international law. | BGNES