site.btaBulgaria's President, Prime Minister Confer with Cypriot President Anastasiades

Sofia, February 25 (BTA) - Speaking at a joint news briefing
after his meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades here
 on Tuesday, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said that they had
discussed the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework and the two
countries's common position in defence of the Cohesion Policy
and the Common Agricultural Policy. "President Anastasiades and
I firmly support the efforts to adopt a budget that would
guarantee a sustainable economic and social cohesion in the EU,
based on our principles of solidarity and unity," Radev also
said.

The President of Cyprus is paying a two-day official visit to
Bulgaria at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart.

Radev also said that he and his guest had discussed the
bilateral ties, putting an emphasis on economic cooperation. In
Radev's words, new perspectives will be  searched regarding new
parameters for the bilateral economic and trade relations. Three
 agreements will be signed between the two countries' chambers
of commerce and industry, he added.

Radev went on to say that they had also discussed the energy
perspective before Bulgaria and Cyprus, as well as the possible
joining of the Three Seas Initiative by Cyprus.

Radev said he had expressed Bulgaria's systematic support for
the effective solution of the Cyprus issue. In his words, he had
 also expressed gratitude for the effort made to fully integrate
 the Bulgarian community in Cyprus, comprising over 25,000
people.

President Anastasiades described the long-term bilateral
relations as excellent. He said that during the talks he and
Radev had expressed the shared will for broader bilateral
cooperation in the areas of energy, innovations, and science,
among others.

Anastasiades said he had informed his Bulgarian counterpart
about the current situation regarding the Cyprus issue, about
the violations of international law both at sea and on land
related to drilling activities. He expressed willingness to
participate in a new round of negotiations on the issue's
complete solution.

Later on Tuesday, President Anastasiades met with Bulgarian
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the Government Information
Service reported. During the talks, Borissov put an emphasis on
broadening the potential in agriculture, tourism, energy,
culture, education and science, and shipping.

Borissov told Anastasiades that Bulgaria supports the agreement
signed between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece on the construction of
 the EastMed gas pipeline.

On Wednesday, the Cypriot President is scheduled to meet with
National Assembly Chair Tsveta Karayancheva, Parliament's press
centre said.

RY, NV/DS