site.btaBulgarian Foreign Minister Zaharieva Confers with Hungarian Counterpart Szijjarto, They Mark Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day

Budapest, October 19 (BTA) - During an official visit to Budapest -
 her first bilateral visit to that country, Bulgarian Deputy
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva on
Monday discussed with her Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto
a wide range of issues on the bilateral and European agenda,
including energy, migration, and the European integration of the
 Western Balkans, Zaharieva's Ministry said in a press release.
The visit is tied in with marking the centenary of bilateral
diplomatic relations.

Energy security in Central and Eastern Europe was among the
highlights of the talks. Zaharieva reportedly said that the
Bulgarian Government's energy projects seek diversification of
sources and routes. "Balkan Stream is a Bulgarian project
implemented according to the European rules. Together with the
Bulgarian-Greek gas interconnector, it will enable households in
 Bulgaria and regionwide, including Hungary, to get gas from
across the world," the Deputy PM said.  

Szijjarto said that his country attaches paramount importance to
 the completion of the Balkan Gas Hub and the Balkan Stream
pipeline, including the interconnector with Greece and the
liquefied natural gas terminal at Alexanderoupolis. "We want
diversification and Bulgaria will ensure it through its
territory," he said, quoted by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.

Zaharieva acknowledged the importance of the green corridor that
 was provided for Bulgarian citizens and businesses at the start
 of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, when land
borders across Europe were suddenly closed. "We have to work
together to avoid a second lockdown because our economies won't
hold out," she said. The chief Hungarian diplomat agreed.

"Bulgaria has always regarded Hungary as its long-standing
friend not only on account of our geographic proximity but also
because of our shared values and worldview as partners in the
European family and NATO," the guest pointed out.

Speaking about the friendly relations between the two countries,
 Zaharieva emphasized that Hungary has an officially recognized
Bulgarian minority and thanked the Hungarian State for "the care
 and warm attitude it has always extended to Bulgarians here".

Szijjarto said, for his part, that the Bulgarian community is
playing an important role in society of his country and is
represented in Parliament. He mentioned that one of Hungary's
largest banking groups, OTP, owns the Bulgarian DSK Bank and
that the Hungarian-based low-cost carrier Wizz Air is expanding
its base in Sofia and increases its operations to and from
Sofia. Hungary provides 140 million euro in loans for joint
business projects, he added.  

The two chief diplomats signed a memorandum of understanding in
international  relations between their ministries and a document
 marking the centenary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

At the Hungarian National Museum later in the day, Zaharieva
presented the Foreign Ministry's Golden Badge of Honour to
Bulgarians and Hungarians who have contributed to the
advancement of bilateral relations. The honorees include Dimiter
 Tanev, President of the Association of Ethnic Bulgarians in
Hungary, Hungarian National Assembly member Szimeon Varga,
Dancho Musev, President of the National Bulgarian
Self-Government in Hungary, the long-serving Principal of the
Bulgarian-language school in Budapest, Svetla Kyosseva, and Dr
Mihaly Kothencz of the University of Szeged.  

Zaharieva also unveiled an open-air exhibition of benches
designed in the form of  the Bulgarian letters. The display has
already been on in Paris, Rabat and Berlin.

Deputy Parliament Chair Valeri Simeonov also attended the
observances of the Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day in
Budapest. He was welcomed in front of the Bulgarian Cultural
House by Dancho Musev, Szimeon Varga and Dimiter Tanev, who
familiarized him with the extension of the building financed by
Hungary and Bulgaria.

Later Simeonov attended a holy liturgy at the Bulgarian church
Sts Cyril and Methodius. A monument to Metropolitan Boris of
Nevrokop, who started the construction of the church, was
unveiled. The ceremony was attended by Simeonov, Secretary of
State for Churches, Minorities and Civil Affair Miklos Soltesz,
and Tamas Menczer, Minister of State for Communication. RI,
NV/LN