site.btaBulgarian Parliament Chairman Talks with Serbian Leaders in Belgrade

Belgrade, October 31 (BTA) - Bulgaria's National Assembly Chairman Dimiter Glavchev met with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic in Belgrade, the Bulgarian legislature reported on Tuesday. Glavchev was leading a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Serbia from October 29 to 31.

During the session with President Vucic, Glavchev reaffirmed Bulgaria's support for Serbia's European prospect not only during the Bulgarian EU Presidency in the first half of 2018 but all the way until Serbia joins the bloc, provided that the country meets all relevant criteria.

Glavchev updated Vucic on a demand by the residents of the southeastern Serbian town of Dimitrovgrad to reinstate the town's former name, Tsaribrod (Caribrod). Dimitrovgrad is home to a sizeable Bulgarian community. Glavchev noted that the name change has been the subject of two decisions of the Municipal Council in Dimitrovgrad, but they cannot be implemented without a legislative amendment. Vucic responded by saying that this can be done if the people want it.

The guest also briefed the Serbian President on a desire of the residents of Bosilegrad (another Serbian town with many ethnic Bulgarian inhabitants) to be provided with the necessary conditions to attract economic investors and encourage them to stay in the area. Vucic promised assistance for the effort.

The two officials discussed the building of a motorway between Sofia and Dimitrovgrad, which will facilitate business and tourism in the cross-border region. They also considered the building of tourist infrastructure to lead up to Neshkov Vruh, a mountain near Dimitrovgrad topped by a charnel house which holds the bones of Bulgarian and Serbian soldiers who died in the Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885.

Glavchev and Vucic looked at opportunities for cross-border cooperation between Northwestern Bulgaria and Southeastern Serbia, which are among the most backward regions in the two countries. They concurred that the two regions should be lifted out of poverty through joint efforts and by making full use of available financial instruments. The physical connections will be a natural continuation of the spiritual connections between Bulgaria and Serbia, Glavchev and Vucic agreed.

During a separate meeting, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told Glavchev that Serbia sets great store by its relations with Bulgaria and sees potential for their further development and deepening. "We hope that Bulgaria will support Serbia's accession to the EU and that we will work together for our region's stability and security, because the more stable the region, the better our common future," she said.

Glavchev observed: "Bulgaria has made much effort and we have convinced our partners that the European integration of the Western Balkans should get back on the EU agenda." According to him, Sofia prioritizes the project for European Corridor 10, the motorway from Sofia to the Serbian town of Nis, and the natural gas interconnector between the two countries.

Glavchev insisted that the local authority issue in Bosilegrad, Southeastern Serbia should be addressed. The problems in Bosilegrad were brought to his notice by members of the local Bulgarian community. Glavchev said the two countries should work together to find effective solutions for the economic development of the Bosilegrad area.

He went on to say: "Regional cooperation is essential for reinforcing stability and prosperity in the region. Bulgaria's contribution in this respect is considerable."

Prime Minister Brnabic assured her guest that Serbia has taken all necessary measures to guarantee the rights of national minorities and to create more jobs for them.

Serbia's expected accession to the EU and the support which Bulgaria can provide to help prepare the country for membership were also discussed at a meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic. The host said that the EU-Western Balkans Summit in May 2018, which is on the agenda of the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council, is very important to Serbia.

The diplomat expressed satisfaction with the development of Belgrade's dialogue with Sofia, noting that both sides want bilateral relations to develop in all areas of mutual interest and to work together for the region's energy stability.