A decisive step towards Ukraine’s European integration will serve both Bulgaria’s interests and those of the Bulgarian community there. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said, who met at 2 Dondukov street Anton Kisse, chief of the Association of the Bulgarians in Ukraine. The Head of State is expected to visit the country during the first half of 2014. Within his forthcoming visit, the President accepted the invitation to hold a meeting with the Bulgarian community in Odessa and Bolgrad.
According to statistics from the last census in Ukraine conducted in 2001, the Bulgarian community there is comprised of more than 200,000 people, over 150,000 of which live in the Odessa district. Historically, this is the biggest compact Bulgarian community abroad. In President Rosen Plevneliev’s words, the Bulgarian community in Ukraine performs the role of a bridge in the relations between the two peoples and facilitates the development of more active relations between the two countries in different spheres, such as education, science, tourism and local government.
President Rosen Plevneliev and Anton Kisse discussed the issues on the agenda of the EU summit on Eastern Partnership which is due to be held at the end of November in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Head of State categorically confirmed Bulgaria’s support for signing an Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.