NEWS

Rumen Radev in Thessaloniki: Bulgaria and Greece Should Make the Most of Their Strategic Partnership

Continuity in the work of the executive power regarding the strategic projects that link us with Greece is of key importance, the President stresses

The excellent top-level political relations have contributed in recent years to Bulgaria's relations with Greece becoming a strategic axis of stability in the Balkans, facilitating the sustainable development and prosperity of the entire region. The two countries must now make the most of their strategic partnership economically. This is what President Rumen Radev told journalists in Thessaloniki today. The head of state is visiting Greece for the 87th edition of the Thessaloniki International Fair. Bulgaria is a country of honour at this year's edition of the largest trade fair in Southeast Europe.

Presidents Rumen Radev and Katerina Sakellaropoulou toured the Bulgarian pavilion, which presents some 60 Bulgarian companies in the fields of high technology and innovation, energy, engineering and transport, tourism and food production.

The head of state pointed out that Bulgaria's participation as an honorary participant in the prestigious international fair in Thessaloniki is a great recognition of this country's enhanced economic and scientific potential, given the fact that in recent years the USA, India, Germany and the UAE have been honorary countries.

Radev expressed his gratitude to Katerina Sakellaropoulou for her personal visit to the Bulgarian pavilion and the demonstrated interest in Bulgaria, which is an excellent opportunity to deepen the strategic partnership and cooperation in a number of important areas for both countries.

The head of state also called for continuity in the work of the various governments in Bulgaria on the strategic projects that link us with Greece. Radev highlighted the actions of a series of Bulgarian governments to start work on the gas interconnector with Greece, the development of electricity transmission networks, this country's participation in the liquefied gas terminal in Alexandroupolis and the reservation of natural gas capacity, the initiation of the multimodal transport corridor between the Aegean and the Black Sea. The head of state also highlighted the contribution of the caretaker governments to these projects, including the commissioning of the gas interconnector with Greece, the increase of the reserved capacity of the liquefied gas terminal in Alexandroupolis, the signing of an agreement to study the possibility of building an oil pipeline between Alexandroupolis and Burgas, as well as to ensure the reliability of gas supplies.

The President also mentioned the memoranda prepared by the caretaker governments for the construction of the multimodal corridor between the Aegean and the Black Sea and its extension to the Romanian port of Constanta, as well as a memorandum on Bulgaria's participation in the management of the port of Kavala. These are strategic projects that not only bring direct economic benefits to this country, but also turn us into an important regional factor and I expect the institutions in Bulgaria to consolidate their efforts for their implementation, the President urged. The head of state added that he had had an assurance from the Bulgarian Prime Minister that these memoranda would be signed soon.