“I am impressed by the attitude of Cyprus to the Bulgarian community here. You are an example of a modern European state,” Vice President Margarita Popova said at a meeting with the President of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias. The Vice President expressed her satisfaction to the Cypriot head of state about the range of social benefits, and the opportunity for Bulgarians in Cyprus to exercise their rights.
In response, President Christofias said, “We are happy that we can do this, to express thanks to Bulgaria. We do so from the heart. The two countries have always had a wonderful relationship. Many of our ministers and senior officials have completed their higher education in Bulgaria and speak beautiful Bulgarian. These people will always love Bulgaria and will contribute to the friendly relations between the two countries”.
Vice President Popova congratulated the Cypriot head of state on the wise and balanced policy that his country is conducting in its presidency of the European Union. In the Cypriot team, there is a Bulgarian diplomat who is gaining experience in the country to assist Bulgaria in its EU presidency in 2018.
The Cypriot President briefed the Bulgarian Vice President on the economic situation in the Cyprus Republic, which he said was “due to bad decisions in the banking sphere”. He said that for Cypriots, it was very difficult to part with the benefits that had been received after the establishment of the current welfare state and for this reason, Euroscepticism among Cypriots would grow.
In their talks, Vice President Popova and President Christofias shared the view that only through a common political will and the efforts of all European countries could there be solutions to a number of international issues and the overcoming of the ongoing economic crisis.
Earlier, Vice President Popova met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis. At their meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and policies in the region. Cyprus backs Bulgarian Irina Bokova for a second term as head of UNESCO, it emerged during the conversation.
During the first day of her working visit to Cyprus, Vice President Popova met with the mayor of the capital Nicosia, Constantinos Yiorkadjis. They discussed the possible twinning of the Bulgarian and Cypriot capitals, and the potential of a range of projects at local level. The Vice President asked Mayor Yiorkadjis to provide a building for the Cultural and Information Centre of the Bulgarian community and expressed hope that Bulgarian investors would “rediscover” the Cypriot capital.
Margarita Popova will today unveil a bas-relief of Vasil Levski in the Bulgarian Embassy building and will meet with the Bulgarian community in Cyprus.
The Vice President’s delegation includes Yordan Bakalov, Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, Denominations, Complaints and Petitions to the National Assembly; Margarita Ralcheva, Chief of Staff of the Vice President; Kiril Topalov, Secretary to the President on Spirituality, Culture and National Identity; and Koyanka Dimitrova, Director of "Bulgarian Communities and Information Services” Directorate at the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, and experts.