The Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar made a three-hour visit to Bulgaria on Monday. "I come to manifest my good feelings for your country," Aznar said. He declared that Spain will join the international coalition to combat terrorism.

"Bulgaria is a democratic country and it belongs to the international community. We will join common solidarity in the struggle against evil, which threatens our civilization," said Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg at the meeting with his Spanish counterpart.

The Spanish premier came to Bulgaria at the invitation of Saxe- Coburg. The visit was part of his tour of the EU candidate states before Spain takes over the rotating EU presidency on January 1, 2002.

After the meeting Aznar said he hoped the execution of reforms in Bulgaria would soon make it and Spain partners within Europe. "EU enlargement does not just depend on the will of the member states but also on the way in which candidates fulfill the membership criteria," he added.

The visit of the Spanish prime minister includes countries with which Spain has an interest in co-operation. "Our bilateral relations with Bulgaria are extremely successful," he said. He added that Bulgaria was the 10th country in Spain's investment plan and export from Bulgaria was an area for mutual co-operation.

It has been said that the Spanish presidency of the EU will adhere to the principle of individual assessment and provide opportunities for countries to catch up with the more advanced applicants, said Bulgaria's chief negotiator with the EU, Meglena Kuneva, after the prime ministers' statements. Kuneva, who attended the meeting, said she has made arrangements for talks with Spanish colleagues.