site.btaCooperation for Sustainable Development between Sofia, Paris Discussed by Mayors

Cooperation for Sustainable Development between Sofia, Paris Discussed  by Mayors

Paris/Sofia, March 25 (BTA) - Joint work of mayors for
sustainable development of cities was high on the agenda of a
meeting Tuesday between Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova and
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo in France, the Sofia City Hall said in
a press release.

Hidalgo expressed gratitude for the meeting and the opportunity
to confirm the joint work between Sofia and Paris in the area of
environmental protection, transport and urban green systems.
Hidalgo stressed the importance of the joint work of mayors for
sustainable development, given that cities bear responsibility
for the solutions addressing climate change. She said Sofia has
experience in the work for the prevention of floods. Experts
from Paris will visit Sofia to exchange experience in this area.
The Bulgarian capital for its part will get expert help in the
area of revealing and displaying cultural-historical heritage
and the city's green system.

The mayors of the two capitals also discussed the opportunity
for cooperation in energy efficiency and renewable energy
sources.

On Fandakova's suggestion, the participants in the meeting
discussed an idea for presenting Sofia in an open city space in
Paris on the eve of May 24, a big holiday in Bulgaria
celebrating the Cyrillic alphabet and culture. The presentation
is expected to be installed either next to the Louvre or the in
the prestigious Le Marais district.

Hidalgo accepted Fandakova's invitation to visit Sofia soon.

Attending the meeting in Paris were also Malina Edreva,
Chairperson of the Education, Culture and Science Committee in
the Sofia City Hall, Deputy Sofia Mayor in charge of culture,
education, sport and prevention of addictions, Todor Chobanov,
French Ambassador to Sofia Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, Bulgarian
Ambassador in France Angel Cholakov, Paris Deputy Mayor in
charge of international relations Patrick Klugman, Paris Deputy
Mayor in charge of town planning and architecture Jean-Louis
Missika, and diplomatic advisor Aurelien Lechevallier.

Later on Tuesday Fandakova visited the Paris Carnavalet Museum.

The Sofia Mayor also conferred with Pauline Veron, Deputy Mayor
of Paris in charge of local democracy, citizen participation,
NGOs, youth and employment, with whom she discussed the
financing of civic projects in Sofia and the experience of Paris
in the so-called shared budgets.