YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva’s visit to Armenia is supplementing the two countries’ active dynamics of political dialogue, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said at a joint press conference with Zaharieva in Yerevan.

“The Armenian-Bulgarian relations are based on historic friendship and numerous cultural relations, which create the foundation for the development of today’s intergovernmental relations,” the minister said.

Mnatsakanyan said that the history of the Armenian community in Bulgaria dates back to the 5th century. He noted that national heroes of the Armenian people had their active participation in the liberation of the Bulgarian people, and earned numerous state awards.

“After the Hamidian massacres and genocide the Bulgarian people accepted tens of thousands of Armenian survivors. Therefore, the two peoples are also friends in destiny,” he said.

Mnatsakanyan said the Armenian-Bulgarian relations are developing both bilaterally and multilaterally and are an active part in the Armenia-EU dialogue. He was happy to note that Bulgaria is one of the 16 countries to have already ratified the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

“Our economic relations are actively developing, however we can’t yet consider the progress to be sufficient. In this regard we highlight the work of the Armenian-Bulgarian intergovernmental commission, with its 8th session having taken place in March this year in Yerevan. The business forum which was held was an important event for the development of bilateral relations,” he said.

FM Mnatsakanyan stressed the strengthening of ties between the peoples and societies and in this context highlighted the establishment of direct communication, including through launching Yerevan-Sofia flights which will contribute to the development of economic, tourism cooperation, cultural and human contacts.

The foreign ministers pointed out tourism, IT and medical sectors as promising sectors for cooperation.

“As a parliamentary republic which is proceeding in the path of democracy, Armenia attaches great importance to the role of parliamentary diplomacy. Friendship groups are functioning in the parliaments of the two countries. This year the Bulgaria-Armenia parliamentary friendship group is scheduled to visit Armenia also. Our countries are also actively cooperating in the cultural, educational and scientific sectors”, the FM said.

The sides signed two documents during the meeting: the Agreement on International Land Passenger Transportation and Cargo Transportation between the Armenian and Bulgarian Governments, and the Implementation Protocol of the Armenia-EU Readmission Agreement.

“We addressed urgent issues of the regional and international agenda. I presented our principled stance and approaches in the NK conflict’s peaceful resolution process, at the core of which are the inalienable rights of the Artsakh’s people to freely determine their political status without restriction and coercion, to freely ensure their economic, social and cultural development,” Mnatsakanyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan