A Bulgarian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeniya Koldanova took part in the EU-Africa ministerial meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the Foreign Ministry announced as reported by Bulgarian News Agency BTA.

The forum in the Egyptian resort aimed to prepare documents for the second EU-Africa Summit, which would take place on December 8 and 9 in Lisbon.

Projects coordinated so far, of the Joint EU-Africa Strategy and the First Action Plan 2008-2010, as well as of the Lisbon Political Declaration, were discussed at the meeting.

Delegations were welcomed by Egypt's foreign minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit.

In a joint statement, the forum listed what had been accomplished so far and said it was necessary to further consolidate and develop EU-Africa partnership. The document said Egypt played an active role in stimulating friendship and cooperation between Europe and Africa.

In the framework of the ministerial meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Koldanova had a meeting with Egypt's culture minister Farouk Hosny. The two discussed Hosny's nomination as UNESCO Director-General and the possibilities to organise a week of Bulgarian culture in Egypt during the first half of 2008, BTA said.