YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, ARMENPRESS. On the sidelines of his state visit in Bulgaria, President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan visited the Armenian-populated city of Plovdiv where he met with Mayor Zdravko Dimitrov, the Presidential Office said.

During the meeting at the Plovdiv City Hall, the Mayor said they were waiting for the visit of the Armenian President with a great joy and excitement.

“There is quite a big Armenian community in Plovdiv, and we are very proud of it. The only Armenian school in Bulgaria, which operates since 1834, is also deployed here. There is also an Armenian church in our city”, Mayor Zdravko Dimitrov said and briefed the President on city’s development programs and cooperation opportunities.

President Khachaturyan thanked for the warm welcome and highly appreciated the friendly attitude of Bulgaria towards Armenians. He said that good conditions have been created for the representatives of the Armenian community as a result of which they have tried with their activities to contribute significantly to Bulgaria’s development and progress.

In his remarks Mayor Zdravko Dimitrov remembered ethnic Armenian mayors of Plovdiv as Tiran Parikian who has served from 1971 to 1979. He greatly contributed to the creation of the modern appearance of the city. Another ethnic Armenian Karapet Tovmasian has served as Mayor of Plovdiv in 1991-1995. He has introduced a number of models of modern governance during his tenure.

During the meeting the sides discussed also a number of issues aimed at deepening the mutual partnership in different fields.

During the visit in Plovdiv, the Armenian President also visited the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, the "Viktoriya i Kirkor Tyutyundzhiyan" Secondary School, the St. George Armenian Church and the House-Museum Stepan Hindliyan.