India, Bulgaria review security related bilateral issues

New Delhi, June 11 : India and Bulgaria held wide ranging discussions on various security related bilateral issues, here today.

The Indian delegation was headed by Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, while the Bulgarian side was led by their Deputy Minister of Interior Goran Yonov.

The talks were aimed at reviewing the initiatives and progress outlined under the Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Organized Crime, International Terrorism and Illegal Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the two countries had signed in 1994, as also for developing newer areas of cooperation on issues of mutual concern.

During the talks, both sides expressed satisfaction at the evolving ties in matters of mutual concern pertaining to security, organised crime, international terrorism and illicit drug trafficking.

It was appreciated that the framework provided by the 1994 Agreement between India and Bulgaria was acquiring substantive content and detailed agency-to-agency contact has been worked out with Indian agencies concerned.

Both sides also agreed to move ahead with detailed proposals for mutually beneficial capacity building programmes.

On Tuesday, the Bulgarian delegation had separate subject-specific interactions with officials of the Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Narcotics Control Bureau. onov is also scheduled to call on Union Minister of Home Affairs Shivraj Patil and Minister of State for Law and Justice K. Venkatapathy.

The Bulgarian delegation is on a visit to India from June 10.

ANI