Sushma on four-day visit to Bulgaria, Morocco and Spain from Saturday

New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be on a four-day visit to Bulgaria, Morocco and Spain from Saturday to strengthen India's relations with these three countries, expand avenues of cooperation and discuss key regional and global issues, an statement said.

In the first-ever visit by an Indian Foreign Minister to Bulgaria, Sushma Swaraj will be in the East European nation on February 16 and 17, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.

During her visit, which is a follow-up to the state visit of President Ram Nath Kovind in September last year, she will meet the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. 

Sushma Swaraj will also pay floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the South Park in Sofia. The statue was jointly unveiled by the Indian and Bulgarian Presidents last year to mark the celebrations of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 

"She will also interact with the Indian community and Friends of India in Sofia during the visit," the statement said. 

In the second leg of her tour, Sushma Swaraj will visit Morocco on February 17 and 18 in pursuit of India's objective of enhanced engagement with the north African kingdom and to hold in-depth discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues. 

During the visit, she will interact with her counterpart Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. 

She will also call on King Mohammed VI, Saad Dine El Otmani, the Head of Government and Habib El Maliki, the President of Chamber of Representatives, Parliament. 

Three Memorandum of Understandings for cooperation in the areas of counter-terrorism, housing and human settlements and youth matters are expected for signing during the visit. 

She will also interact with the Indian community in Rabat. 

In the last leg of her visit, Sushma Swaraj will travel to Spain on February 18 and 19 at the invitation of her counterpart Josep Borrell Fontelles and discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern with him. 

The Spanish government will also confer upon Sushma Swaraj the prestigious Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit for India´s swift response through "Operation Maitri" in rescuing 71 Spanish nationals from Nepal in April 2015 in the wake of the disastrous earthquake. 

She will also interact with the Indian community in Spain.