23.11.2017
The construction of Corridor Nr. 8 is of crucial importance for the entire region, said Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in Strumitsa, where the first joint meeting of the governments of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia took place today. The meeting, which is to discuss projects of concrete results in bilateral cooperation, was agreed on at the time of signing the Agreement for Friendship, Cooperation and Good Neighborly Relations on August 1 this year.
The construction of Corridor Nr. 8 will contribute to the development of tourism, the economy, and the business not only in Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia but also in all countries of the region of the Balkans, pointed out the two Prime Ministers. According to Borissov, the importance of the topic has already been realized, an interest has been expressed in funding of the project from international financial institutions. “This is an optimistic fact. I hope that in the next few years the process will become irreversible,” said the Bulgarian Prime Minister and noted that on 6-7 December in Sofia a meeting with the leaders of the Western Balkan countries and representatives of the World Bank will take place.
Borissov added that the construction of infrastructure projects in the region, the cooperation in the field of communications and energy mean more investments and revenue for all citizens. “People want this and we are obliged to provide it. We must have roads on the Balkans. When money is being invested in construction, there are no wars,” he commented.
At a joint press conference the two Prime Ministers agreed that today’s meeting is a good foundation for the development of trade-investment relations between the countries. “The perspective for Macedonian membership in NATO and the EU continues to be the main engine for reforms in the country, we continue to work actively in this direction. I thank for their help our Bulgarian colleagues, who will consult us and we will continue to build our friendship this way,” noted the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Zoran Zaev.
According to Borissov, the time of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU should be used, as well the next few presidencies, to move forward with the issue of integration of the Western Balkans into the EU. “We want to continue with real steps. They could be smaller but visible,” highlighted the Bulgarian Prime Minister.
In the presence of the two Prime Ministers, nine documents were signed for bilateral cooperation in the fields of foreign affairs, investments, energy, defence, tourism, telecommunications, infrastructure, and natural disaster reaction. The Bulgarian delegation provided the Strumitsa Municipality with a donation – a specialized vehicle for disabled persons. With this donation our country supported the implementation of the project for social inclusion of vulnerable groups in the Strumitsa Municipality and the creation of conditions for full participation of people with disabilities in the economic, social, and cultural life in the city.
