Zuma to Host Bulgarian Counterpart

Political, economic and trade relations are set to take centre stage when Deputy President Jacob Zuma hosts his Bulgarian counterpart Vice President Angel Marin in Pretoria on Thursday. Vice President Marin, who will be on a three-day official visit to South Africa, will be accompanied by Chief of the Cabinet of the Vice President Svetla Toshkova. The Bulgarian delegation will also include Foreign Policy Secretary of the President Nikola Karadimov and deputy ministers Oleg Hinkov of health and Borislav Abdjiev of culture. The two political heads will on Thursday lead the political consultations and exchange views on international and regional issues affecting the two countries. Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said issues to be covered included the African agenda including the operationalisation of the African Union (AU) and the implementation of Nepad as well as developments within the European Union (EU) with particular reference to the expansion of the EU and Bulgaria's progress in negotiations with the EU on full membership. Other issues would touch on the reform of the United Nations and all its organs including the UN Security Council and the World Trade Organisation and developments regarding the Middle East Peace Process and the international fight against terrorism.