site.btaPresident Plevneliev: "No Alternative to Ukraine's Modernization, Democratic European Road of Development"

President Plevneliev: "No Alternative to Ukraine's Modernization, Democratic European Road of Development"

Kiev, July 7(BTA Special Correspondent Anelia Tsvetkova) -
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev started a two-day official
visit to Ukraine on Tuesday. The head of State was welcomed at a
 formal ceremony by Ukrainian President Petro
Poroshenko.

"There is no alternative to Ukraine's modernization and
democratic European road of development, and Bulgaria will
support it along this road," the guest said at a joint news
conference with Poroshenko after a one-to-one session with him
and plenary talks of the official delegations in Kiev.

The head of State reiterated Bulgaria's position in support of
Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Plevneliev said that the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by
Russia violates international law and "Bulgaria does not
recognize and will never recognize this unlawful act." The
President further pointed out that his country does not
recognize the results of the referendums in Donetsk and Lugansk.
 "As far as we are concerned, Crimea is Ukraine, and Ukraine is
Europe," Plevneliev said. He emphasized that a way out of the
crisis lies through the observance of the Minsk Agreements and
the EU sanctions against Russia are contingent on their full
implementation. "Bulgaria supports the sanctions and will be
working for a strong and united EU position in support of and
for guaranteeing Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial
integrity," the President said. He argued that no one has the
right to shift borders by force and occupy foreign territories,
even less so in Europe. "Europe's future lies in the removal of
borders, not in the shifting of borders," Plevneliev added.

The head of State expressed Bulgaria's categorical support for
Ukraine's European perspective and for the lifting of visa
requirements for Ukrainian citizens.

A protocol on cooperation and exchange between the two
countries' education 
and science ministries for the period until 2019 was signed in
the presence of the two Presidents. The document provides for
the exchange of post-graduates, students and doctoral students
for a full course of study, exchange of Bulgarian and Ukrainian
language lecturers, and assistance to the educational activity
of the Bulgarian community in Ukraine.
 
In addition to his session with Poroshenko, on Tuesday
Plevneliev is scheduled to confer with Prime Minister Arseniy
Yatsenyuk and Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) Chairman Volodymyr
Groysman. The Bulgarian President will also meet with business
executives and members of the Bulgarian community in Ukraine.

Earlier on Tuesday, Plevneliev laid wreaths at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier, the memorial to the victims of the Holodomor
famine in Ukraine in 1932 and 1933, as well as the Memorial
Cross to the Heavenly Hundred Heroes who died during the events
between November 2013 and February 2014.