NEWS

The Head of State: the Dialogue between Bulgaria and Russia Contributes to Restoring the Trust between the EU and Russia, which is Something All of Us have an Interest in

The Russian Prime Minister invited the Bulgarian President to the St. Petersburg Economic Forum in June so that the bilateral dialogue pertaining to the projects of common interest can be continued

There is political will and the necessary conditions to develop an equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between Bulgaria and Russia. This is what President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev at 2 Dondukov street today. The Bulgarian Head of State recalled that during his meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin last year in Russia the top-level dialogue was resumed despite the different opinions on bilateral and international issues.
“I think that the dialogue between Bulgaria and Russia contributes to restoring the trust between the EU and Russia, which is something all of us have an interest in,” Rumen Radev said.
In the President’s words, Russia is our country’s strategic partner in the energy sector, where we enjoy a great potential for strengthening the bilateral relations. “Of course, with due regard for important principles such as expediency, competitiveness, transparency, security of supply and what is particularly important for Bulgaria at a bargain price,” Rumen Radev added. Bulgaria would like to preserve its place on Europe’s gas map, regardless of the transit of Russian gas through other countries, the Bulgarian Head of State further said. The low prime cost and security of the energy supplies are important factors for competitiveness and the economy of every country.
The President further highlighted the partnership in tourism, in which the bilateral relations are stable and promising and added that the Bulgarian economy can offer a lot more to the Russian consumer, who is familiar with and highly appreciates the quality of a lot of Bulgarian goods.
The good relations between the Bulgarian and Russian people should become the basis for a quality leap forward in the bilateral ties, particularly in economy, Dmitry Medvedev said, for his part. In the Russian Prime Minister’s words, overcoming the period of stagnation in trade and “the collapse of the economic ties” depends on the efforts of the politicians in both countries. “Pooling efforts can change everything, most importantly the governments should work appropriately, the necessary decisions should be made at the company level, we should be engaged in a permanent dialogue, including a dialogue at the inter-regional and humanitarian level,” Dmitry Medvedev said. The Russian Prime Minister invited the Bulgarian Head of State to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, at which the dialogue for the implementation of projects of mutual interest can continue.
The two shared the stance that the partnership between Bulgaria and Russia in education, science and culture has long traditions and huge prospects for development. “This is a true investment in the future of the bilateral relations and particularly in creating an opportunity for a more active exchange in education and science,” Rumen Radev emphasized. The President said that that our country has won recognition as a regional education hub and a lot of students from many European countries receive their university degree in Bulgaria.
Both Rumen Radev and Dmitry Medvedev noted the deep historical, spiritual and cultural ties which connect the Bulgarian and Russian people and have stood the test of time. President Radev drew attention to the solemn marking of 141 years since the end of the Russian-Turkish war and the liberation of Bulgaria in our country and also to the role of the alphabet, created by the Bulgarian first teachers, which the two peoples use to write, read and carry out an active cultural exchange.