November 18, 2008

The delegation, headed by the chairman of the friendship group with Bulgaria in the Federation Council of the Russian’s Federation Federal Assembly, Viktor Gluhih, is visiting Bulgaria at the invitation of Mr. Petar Kunev, chair of the Bulgaria – Russia friendship group in parliament. He joined the guests at the meeting with Mr. Pirinski.

During the talks, both sides shared their understanding that the two parliaments should help and encourage the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. They outlined the concrete projects, of current interest, as being in the fields of the transport corridors, the energy sector and the signing of a social security cooperation agreement between the respective ministries in the two countries.

The two parties agreed that relations between Bulgaria and Russia should develop further and the volume of trade increased. It was emphasized that further development of traditional relations between the regions in the two countries, should be encouraged and the unused potential tapped.

The two sides stressed the importance of the efforts made by the parliaments in Bulgaria and Russia for the successful preparations of the Year of Bulgaria in Russia, which is to be held throughout 2009. They agreed that the focal point of the celebrations should be the rich historical traditions and spiritual closeness between the two countries and people, still valid and continuing.