Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 22 / Trend S. Agayeva /
The relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria are developing up to date, Bulgarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasil Kalinov said.
"Azerbaijan and Bulgaria are the friendly countries, not only in words. Our two countries have historically good relations. The main thing is to develop these ties," he said in an interview with Trend, timed to the Bulgarian Liberation Day.
He said that the two countries maintain close dialogue, including that between the two presidents.
"Bulgaria and Azerbaijan are bound not only by a good history of bilateral relations. We are also partners in the European Union. Azerbaijan is a great friend of the European Community. The country participates in the Eastern Partnership. Bulgaria is ready to support its integration into the European Union", ambassador said.
The relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union entered a new phase - a partnership within the EU 'Eastern Partnership' program launched by Poland and Sweden in May last year.
The Eastern Partnership is aimed at the political and economic rapprochement of six post-Soviet states - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus - and the EU. The program does not provide opportunities for EU membership, but involves facilitating the visa regime, energy cooperation and the introduction of free trade zones.
Bilateral cooperation
Bulgarian ambassador said that the relations between the two countries are rapidly developing. "I think that the two countries will actively cooperate in the field of tourism for the nearest years. Bulgaria is a tourist state. Our countries have a bright future for cooperation in the tourism industry", the diplomat said.
Another promising area for cooperation between the two countries can be education, he said.
He said that very many universities with economic specialities, as well as theological seminaries, ready to admit Azerbaijani students operate in Bulgaria.
Culture has a special place in cooperation between the two countries, he said.
"Bulgaria is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan in this sphere. Bulgarian Minister of Culture plans to visit Azerbaijan in April to attend an international conference on intercultural dialogue. The agreements on cooperation are planned to be signed between the culture ministries of both countries," the diplomat said.
Legal base
The ambassador said that the two countries established a good legal base, regulating the legal aspects of cooperation between the two countries. It is being updated periodically in accordance with the requirements of the time.
At present, the work is being conducted over drafts agreement on cooperation in such spheres as education, transportation, culture, emergency situations.
"Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov will visit Bulgaria soon. The agreement will be signed on cooperation in this area," he said.
Bulgarian Liberation Day
March 3 is Bulgarian Liberation Day. It is a day of revival of the state after five centuries of slavery in the Ottoman empire, the ambassador said.
"This day we celebrate the revival of the state and the appearance of the new sovereign and independent state on the European map," Kalinov said.
The diplomat said that Bulgaria is an independent state for 134 years. Today, the country, being a member of the European Community and the European Union, is building a legal democratic state, he said.