site.btaBulgaria Receives Proposal in Iran to Join New Transport Corridor

Bulgaria Receives Proposal in Iran to Join New Transport Corridor

Tehran, July 11 (BTA Special Correspondent Genka Ivanova) - Bulgaria received a proposal to join a new transport corridor: Iran - Armenia - Georgia - Bulgaria, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said after his talks with Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri here on Monday. "Even today we are ready to participate in this transport corridor and, therefore, we agreed that in two weeks experts from the countries along the corridor will come to Bulgaria to discuss the details," he noted.

In Borissov's words, Bulgaria could take up such a transport corridor via the ports in Bourgas and Varna, and from there it could reach the whole of Europe throught the country's existing infrastructure. This corridor includes not only the transportation of freight and goods but also of gas, the PM added. Borissov recalled the project for the construction of a Balkan gas hub in Bulgaria, which will also feature on the agenda of the experts' meeting.

Borissov is on an official visit to Iran as head of a Bulgarian delegation from July 10 to 12. On the delegation are Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov, Transport, IT and Communications Minister Ivaylo Moskovski, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov, Agriculture and Food Minister Dessislava Taneva, and Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova.

Borissov said that he and Jahangiri also talked about nuclear energy and Bulgaria's potential in this sphere, including in terms of a nuclear reactor. The topic will be discussed in more detail at a meeting of the two countries' energy ministers later on Monday, Borissov specified.

Also on the agenda of Monday's talks were cooperation in the sphere of agriculture, transport and communications, and tourism. The two sides discussed the possibility for assisting Iran with the problem of bank payments. In Borissov's words, the finance ministers of the two countries will discuss this topic and with the cooperation of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, what is necessary will be made on the European level. "I have made a commitment to my colleagues to raise this issue, including at a European Council," he added.

The Iranian First Vice-President noted the good bilateral relations in the past and the drop registered during the sanctions imposed on his country. He expressed the hope that these relations will be revived with the serious political will declared. In his words, the visit of a Bulgarian delegation with representatives of the private sector shows that this serious political shall proceed to implementation. He also said he and Borissov discussed cooperation in the sphere of oil, gas, petroleum industry, energy sources, and agriculture. Readiness was expressed to support the private sector in the two countries with the goal of making investments.

Following the bilateral talks, Bulgaria and Iran signed three memoranda of cooperation in the spheres of IT and communications, investments, and SMEs.

At the end of the meeting, the Bulgarian PM invited Jahangiri to visit Bulgaria soon.