January 31, 2009

Chairman of the Bulgaria-Greece Friendship Group in Parliament Georgi Yuroukov met Saturday, January 31, 2009, his Greek counterpart Stavros Dailakis in connection with the blockade of border checkpoints by protesting Greek farmers.

MP Boris Yachev, Bulgarian Consul in Thessaloniki Simeon Mangurov, Blagoevgrad Regional Governor Vladimir Dimitrov and Blagoevgrad Deputy Regional Governor Dimiter Krustanov took part in the meeting.

Yuroukov handed over to Dailakis a letter of National Assembly Chairman Georgi Pirinski to Greece's Parliament Speaker Dimitris Sioufas. The letter expressed concern about the continuing blockade by protesting Greek farmers and the expectations of Bulgaria for immediate relief of the situation and traffic resumption.

Georgi Urukov noticed that Bulgaria was actively involved in resolving this problem and that a Diplomatic Note was sent to the Embassy of Greece on January 23rd. He also mentioned that such blockade had not occurred before and that prompted the President of the European Commission to approach the Greek government .

Mr. Georgi Urukov and Mr. Stavros Dailakis expressed conviction that the problem would soon be resolved and would not be repeated.

Dailakis said that he is willing and hoping that Monday will turn a different day and it will become clear whether the protesting Greek farmers will lift the blockade of the Koulata-Promachonas border checkpoint. He added that everybody has the right to strike, however this should not cause problems to others. He also said that he is aware of the troubles experienced by local enterprises in the area of Gotze Delchev, and the impeded transportation of fresh fruits and legumes and expressed his apologies.