Official website of the President of Russia

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Vladimir Putin: Dear Mr President,

I am happy to welcome you to Moscow.

In the last few years, relations between our countries have been actively developing in all areas: both in the political sphere and in the economic relations. I am certain that we can make use of the rich potential of our co-operation accumulated not only during the last few years, but also over the centuries of our interaction. It gives us great pleasure to welcome you to Moscow as the leader of a friendly state.

Georgi Parvanov: Thank you, Mr President. I am happy to be your guest and I would like to thank you for the invitation.

Exactly 125 years ago to this day, Russia sent a diplomatic representative to Bulgaria and thus recognised the country.

Of course, our contacts today are not only linked with our gratitutde to the Russian nation for the state’s act of recognition – they are also based on the need to find new, practical dimensions in our contemporary relations. During the meetings that have taken place in the last two and a half years, we have had a very intensive agenda. We are aware of the significant progress on a number of issues, and we are likely to discuss it in the process of negotiations.

Of course, there remain some unresolved issues . And I hope that out meeting today will give a new impulse to the development of relations at various levels: between our governments, parliaments and at the regional level.