Bulgaria is to work for widening the regional cooperation, as well as to deepen its traditionally good, friendly relations with Serbia, stated the president of the National Assembly, Mihail Mikov, at the meeting with Serbia’s Minister of Regional Development and Local Self Government, Igor Mitrovich. The guest is on a visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart, the Minister of Regional Development and Local Self Government, Desislava Terzieva. The meeting took place on 4 November, 2013.

The Speaker of Bulgaria’s Parliament expressed support for the intentions voiced by the Bulgarian and Serbian regional ministers to complete by the end of 2016 the highway between Sofia and Nish, as well as to open a new border checkpoint at Salash – Novo Korito. In his words the two joint projects are proof of the policies of strengthening of the bilateral relations. The municipalities located along the border are partnering very well and I hope this cooperation will end up in new joint projects, noted Mihail Mikov. Such partnerships should be used to the fullest. In this way the two countries will give Brussels a strong, positive signal.

Mihail Mikov stated that Bulgaria supports the accession of Serbia to the European Union. He added Bulgaria is ready to share its experiences and contribute to the successful completion of Serbia’s EU integration process.

The Minister of Regional Development and Local Self Government of Serbia, Igor Mitrovich thanked Bulgaria for the support to Serbia’s accession to the European Union. He defined his visit to Bulgaria as extremely successful. He underscored the construction of the section between Bulgaria and Serbia of transport corridor No 10 should be accelerated and said he would propose a session of the joint commission between the two ministries to be carried out as soon as possible in order to discuss this issue. Igor Mitrovich agreed that the neighboring municipalities on both sides of the border should be encouraged and supported to cooperate locally.