February 1 (BTA) - US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy
Sherman spoke with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on
Monday (Bulgarian time), the Office of Spokesperson Ned Price
said.

The Deputy Secretary and the Prime Minister reaffirmed the
strategic partnership between the United States and Bulgaria.
The Deputy Secretary congratulated the Prime Minister on the
recent announcement that the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) will open discussions with
Bulgaria on accession, and affirmed the U.S. commitment to work
with fellow OECD members to support this process, the
Spokesperson said.

Deputy Secretary Sherman thanked the Prime Minister for
Bulgaria's role as a stalwart NATO Ally in the face of Russia's
escalatory actions toward Ukraine and discussed the shared
commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Deputy Secretary and the Prime Minister also discussed the
Bulgarian government's objectives of tackling COVID,
diversifying toward clean energy sources, and implementing
anti-corruption reforms as priorities that will benefit the
Bulgarian people. RY/DD

//