February 2, 2009

At their meeting held February 2, 2009 in the Bulgarian parliament National assembly Chairman Georgi Pirinski and the Speaker of the People’s Assembly of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ahmad Fathi Sorour stressed that cooperation in the energy sector was among the priorities in the relations between the two countries.

The Speaker of the Egyptian parliament, Ahmad Sorour is heading a parliamentary delegation on a one day official visit to Bulgaria. The meeting was attended by the National Assembly Deputy Chairman Younal Loutfi, MPs Plamen Ranchev, Assia Mihailova, Ilko Dimitrov and by Penko Atanasov – head of Bulgaria – Egypt friendship group in the National Assembly.

After the meeting, Georgi Pirinski stated before media representatives that the bilateral relations with Egypt have a long tradition, which was allowing currently the two countries to join their efforts in the face of common challenges and problems. In his view, such a problem today unquestionably was the energy field. He added that he has reiterated his invitation for the Egyptian President Hosni Moubarak to participate in the high level Energy Forum, organized by Bulgaria on 24-25 April 2009. One important issue, to be discussed at this summit, would be the supply and transit of natural gas.
Dr. Ahmed Sorour praised the Bulgarian initiative to hold such a high profile event and wished success in the achievement of its future goals and projects. He recalled the recent visit to Bulgaria of the Egyptian Energy Minister, who had expressed the wish of Egypt to establish direct contacts between the two countries for the readiness of his country to supply Bulgaria with energy from various sources in Egypt.

The two speakers also discussed the efforts of the international community to establish stability and find solution to the problems of the Middle East and the issue on the creation of a separate state for the Palestinian people. Mr. Pirinski reaffirmed the categorical support of Bulgaria for the UN resolutions in this respect and emphasized the crucial role of Egypt in the search of peaceful means to get over the present very sharp crisis in the Gaza Strip and in the search of peace in the Middle East as a whole.

Mr. Ahmad Fathi Sorour noted that the Egyptian parliament was in favor of unity for Palestinians and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and for a lasting peace in the region.
On his part, Georgi Pirinski stressed that the bilateral relations had intensified after the last year visit to Egypt of the Bulgarian President Purvanov and that the reached agreements were already in the process of implementation. He mentioned that there were more draft agreements in the social, economic and military field waiting to be signed during the Bulgarian Prime Minister upcoming visit to Egypt. He also said that the relations between the two parliaments were extremely important for the realization of the whole potential of the relations between the two countries.

The Head of the People’s Assembly of Egypt extended an invitation for a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation to visit his country.
National Assembly Chairman Georgi Pirinski availed himself of the occasion to thank his guest for his personal efforts and assistance for the favorable outcome of the Bulgarian medics case.
The Egyptian guest is scheduled to meet also the Bulgarian president Georgi Purvanov, PM Sergey Stanishev and Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivailo Kalfin.