AFR The Prime Minister is to meet the Prime Minister of Bulgaria on 19 June 2002.

18.06.02

Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha will visit Denmark on 19 June 2002. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will meet Prime Minister Gotha for talks and subsequent lunch at Marienborg.

Bulgaria is currently negotiating accession to the EU.

On the occasion of the visit, Prime Minister Fogh Rasmussen states:

'I have given high priority to meeting my colleagues from the candidate countries before Denmark assumes the EU Presidency. I am, therefore, looking very much forward to meeting Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha.

Obviously, Bulgaria's preparations for membership of the EU and the negotiations with the EU will have a central position in our talks. Bulgaria will not be able to finalise the negotiations on membership of the EU by the end of this year, but we shall have to draft a road map for Bulgaria's further negotiations with the EU. The prospects for completing Bulgaria's negotiations on EU membership depend on the continued progress of the Bulgarian reform process.

The question of the enlargement of NATO, for which Bulgaria is also a candidate, will similarly be a significant issue in our talks. Denmark hopes to reach a decision on an comprehensive enlargement of NATO at the summit in Prague in November of this year.'

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Prime Minister Fogh Rasmussen’s talk with Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha will take place from 12.30 PM to 13:30 PM at Marienborg, Nybrovej 410 in Lyngby.

There will be a press conference at 13:30 PM in the court (the weather permitting; alternatively indoors).

There will also be a photo opportunity in connection with the Prime Minister's reception of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha at 12:30 PM at Marienborg.

Press cards must be clearly visible.

Further information: Jesper Fersløv Andersen, (+45) 33 92 22 35.