Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev is leaving on a week-long visit to the United States today (September 23) for participation in the 63rd Regular Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. It opens on September 24, the government information service said.

On September 24, The Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in the morning session of the General Debate of the UN General Assembly and in the High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on the fund for achieving the MDGs.

Stanishev will meet with his counterparts Lawrence Gonzi of Malta and Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark. On the same day, the Prime Minister will open an exhibition highlighting the centenary of Bulgaria's Declaration of Independence at Scandinavia House in New York.

On September 25, the High-level Event on the MDGs will open in New York and Stanishev will participate in Roundtable I: Poverty and Hunger. Later on he will meet with UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis, with former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who is currently serving as chairperson of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, and with Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme. The Bulgarian government leader will attend a reception given by Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer to the heads of delegations and permanent representatives.

On September 26, Stanishev will meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and will join the morning session of the General Debate of the UN General Assembly. The Bulgarian Prime Minister will address the UN General Assembly and will later talk with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.

On the fourth day of his visit, Stanishev and his delegation will leave for Boston. The Prime Minister will meet with the Bulgarian community there and with representatives of the Bulgarian Harvard Club.

On September 29, Stanishev will have a breakfast meeting with representatives of the Boston Chapter of the American Jewish Committee and will participate in a Bulgarian-US investment forum. The Prime Minister will meet with representatives of the leadership of Harvard University and will give a public talk at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University on "Bulgaria as a Stabilizing Factor in South-East Europe and the Black Sea Region".

Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin, who will be in New York, will join the Bulgarian delegation. Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plougchieva will deputize for Stanishev in his absence.

Source: BTA