site.btaUkraine's European Perspective Will Promote Stability and Economic Growth - President

Ukraine's European Perspective Will Promote Stability and Economic Growth - President

Kiev, March 27 (BTA) - The implementation of Ukraine's European perspective will create possibilities for achieving lasting stability and sustainable economic growth, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev said here on Saturday. Plevneliev had talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko. The Bulgarian head of State confirmed Bulgaria's support for Ukraine's association with the EU and approximation to NATO, the
President's Press Secretariat said.

Bulgaria will keep on withstanding its principled position of observing the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Plevneliev stressed. He urged for peaceful settlement of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. "We do not recognize the results of the referendum in Crimea and the referendums in the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk," he also said.

The sides were unanimous that Bulgaria and Ukraine are related with true friendship and that the excellent political dialogue at the highest level creates favourable preconditions for building on the bilateral partnership.

The Ukrainian President will visit Bulgaria in 2016.

The two countries will promote their cooperation in energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Ukraine plays a key role in the energy supplies for Europe and it is highly important that this country introduces the European legislation in the energy field, said Plevneliev.

The two presidents made a review of the fulfillment of the agreements reached during Plevneliev's visit to Ukraine in 2015: the launching of a direct Sofia-Kiev service and of a reconstruction of the Odessa Bolgrad-Reni road, which will facilitate contacts of the Bulgarian community with Bulgaria. The number of fellowships for members of the Bulgarian community in Ukraine studying in Bulgarian universities has been
increased.

Plevneliev thanked for the opportunity provided to implement educational and cultural programmes among the Bulgarian Diaspora in Ukraine exceeding 250,000 people.

He was presented with the Person of the Year - 2015 award of Ukraine for his public and political activity on the European and international plain and for his contribution to the strengthening of Ukraine's relations with the international community. Other laureates of the award include Pope John-Paul II, Latvian President Dalia Grybauskaite, Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski (1995-2005), Latvian president Valdas Adamkus (1998-2003) and EU High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana.