site.btaGerman Ambassador Receives Highest Bulgarian Honour

Sofia, August 7 (BTA) - "Over the last few years of joint work and membership of the EU and NATO, Germany has established itself as a valuable friend, trusted partner and strategic ally to Bulgaria," President Rumen Radev said on Monday, presenting the Order of the Balkan Range, First Class, to German Ambassador Detlef Lingemann.

The diplomat received the highest Bulgarian state honour for his remarkable contribution to the strengthening and development of bilateral relations. The distinction is also a sign of how much Bulgaria values its cooperation with Germany.

Radev said: "Our excellent bilateral relations nowadays are the result of consistent work on the part of our two countries and great dedication of generations of Bulgarian and German diplomats." The President underscored Ambassador Lingemann's personal engagement and his contribution to invigorating and expanding bilateral relations and to maintaining productive political dialogue at various levels.

"We have received essential support from Germany in such key areas as the judicial reform, security and control of the EU's external border, the absorption of EU funds, and dual education," Radev said. "Our cooperation with individual German states has also deepened. We highly value the intensification of our trade and economic ties." According to him, there are 5,000 German enterprises in Bulgaria, and in 2016 bilateral trade exceeded 6.6 billion euro. German investment in the Bulgarian economy amounts to 3 billion euro, making Germany a leading investor here, the President said

Ambassador Lingemann thanked for the praise and noted that bilateral relations are excellent in the domains of politics, the economy and culture. Tourist exchange is flourishing, with about a million German tourists visiting Bulgaria annually. Lingemann said: "Many Bulgarians study German, thus investing in their own future. But these young people also invest in the future of our bilateral relations."

He acknowledged Bulgaria's significant steps in reforming its judicial system and noted that the independence of the courts is pivotal for promoting foreign investment and developing the economy. According to Lingemann, Germany is Bulgaria's largest trading partner and there is even greater potential which can be tapped if the Bulgarian reforms are completed.

The diplomat also discussed the Bulgarian EU Presidency in the first half of 2018. "Bulgaria has proven to be a reliable partner in the EU," he said, noting that the country, supported by its partners, is making huge efforts to protect the EU's external border. He said: "I am certain that Bulgaria will deal successfully with the upcoming challenges."

Lingemann said that this country's history and cultural heritage are an enormous asset not only for the nation itself but also for Europe.