BG

PRIME MINISTER BOYKO BORISSOV MET WITH THE RUSSIAN MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE DENIS MANTUROV

18.09.2019

"The ties between Bulgaria and Russia are based on long-standing historical traditions, cultural similarity and friendly relations between our two peoples." This is what Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said during the meeting with Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.

 

The Bulgarian Prime Minister pointed out that in July this year the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries was marked. "Bulgaria wants to develop its relations with the Russian Federation based on dialogue, constructive cooperation and mutual respect for interests," added Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

 

The Prime Minister stressed that our country wants to continue its cooperation with Russia on priority issues for Bulgaria in the areas of economy, energy, tourism, transport, education, science, culture and social policy. "Russia is a traditional and one of the most important foreign economic partners of Bulgaria," the Prime Minister was certain. He noted that a priority area for our country in the bilateral economic cooperation, based on mutual trust and solidarity, is energy.

 

“Bulgaria pursues a policy aimed at ensuring energy security for both our country and for Europe. We are actively working on gas interconnection projects with neighboring countries," Prime Minister Borissov told the Russian minister.

 

During the meeting an emphasis was put on the support of our country for the branch of Turkish Stream to pass through the territory of Bulgaria in the context of establishing the regional gas hub Balkan, which will help achieve real diversification of gas supplies and competitive prices.

 

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov noted that our country is working on the implementation of the project for expansion of the gas transmission network from the Turkish-Bulgarian to the Bulgarian-Serbian border. The implementation of the Balkan Stream, while strictly complying with European legislation, is of strategic importance for Bulgaria and the region.

 

Given the increasingly ambitious targets for reducing the level of harmful emissions in all sectors of the economy, there will be a need for generating capacity in the region in order to produce clean, reliable electricity at affordable prices. Belene NPP can become such an electricity source for the region, ”added Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

 

The meeting also focused on the results of the 17th meeting of the Bulgarian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, held on September 16-17, 2019 in Varna. "I hope that they will have a positive impact on the bilateral economic relations and that the potential in all areas of mutual interest between the two countries will be realized," Prime Minister Borissov told the Russian minister.