site.btaNational Assembly Chair Tsacheva, Croatian Parliament Speaker Leko Discuss Cooperation in Various Spheres

National Assembly Chair Tsacheva, Croatian Parliament Speaker Leko Discuss Cooperation in Various Spheres

Sofia, March 30 (BTA) - A Croatian parliamentary delegation
headed by Croatian Parliament Speaker Josip Leko is on a
three-day official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of
National Assembly Chair Tsetska Tsacheva, Parliament's press
service said Monday. 

At his meeting with Tsacheva, the guest said that the
cooperation between Bulgarian and Croatian students is the
bridge between the two peoples in all spheres. Leko and the
National Assembly Chair discussed the high level of
Croatian-Bulgarian political relations - a prerequisite for
deepening the economic, cultural and educational contacts and
for interaction within the EU structures and on the regional
level.
   
Bulgaria and Croatia are countries with centuries of ties, and
today the two peoples are writing their history together within
the European structures and organizations, Tsacheva said as
quoted in the press release. She underscored that her country
sees Croatia as a good example of the Western Balkans' EU
integration.
  
Leko recalled that this is his second meeting with Tsacheva
within two months and that his visit to Bulgaria confirms the
bilateral relations of partnership and friendship. In his words,
 the present level of these relations gives the hope that the
two countries can achieve a lot in the EU, particularly given
that they have identical goals.
  
The Croatian Parliament Speaker noted, however, that the
bilateral economic cooperation is not at the same level as the
political relations between the two countries.
   
Tsacheva sees an opportunity for deepening the economic ties in
the energy sector, agriculture and tourism. She underscored
Bulgaria's potential in winter sports and the attraction of
tourists with joint holiday packages.
   
The National Assembly Chair acquainted her guest with a
cooperation agreement signed with the National Association of
Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, and said that the
fraternization of Bulgarian and Croatian cities is being
encouraged. Such ties have already been achieved between Bourgas
 and Rijeka, Rousse and Trogir, Veliko Turnovo and Zadar,
Gabrovo and Sisak. Sofia and Zagreb have signed a memorandum of
cooperation, and the fraternization of Pleven and Pozega, as
well as Yambol and Karlovac is expected in the future.


Croatian Parliament Speaker Leko also meets with President Rosen
 Plevneliev


President Rosen Plevneliev also met with Leko, the President's
Press Secretariat said. Bulgaria and Croatia share certain
positions and will deepen their partnership on the matters on
the EU agenda and as part of regional cooperation in
Southeastern Europe.

The two concurred that Plevneliev's upcoming official visit in
April would encourage Bulgaria and Croatia to develop even
closer interaction regarding the EU's Cohesion Policy, joining
the Schegen area and enlargement policy.

Croatia's EU membership gives impetus to reforms in the other
countries of the region so that the European perspective can
become feasible for each of them, said Plevneliev.