Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev will hold talks with US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice on July 9 2008, the Government's press service said on July 7. Rice will make a short stop in Bulgaria during a scheduled European tour.

Talks are expected to focus on the same topics discussed by US president George W Bush and Stanishev in Washington last month, namely energy, bilateral co-operation and peacekeeping missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reports in Bulgarian-language media speculated that Rice will collect Bulgaria's highest civilian distinction, the Stara Planina order, which she was awarded last year for her role in freeing the Bulgarian medics detained in Libya.

It would be the second time she visits Bulgaria on her own, rather than accompanying Bush, having already done so in April 2006.