site.btaPM Borissov Confers with Russian Ambassador Makarov

December 6 (BTA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko
Borissov Friday conferred with Russian Ambassador in Sofia
Anatoly Makarov, the Government Information Service reported.
They discussed bilateral relations and agreed that there are no
prerequisites impeding their further advancement in a pragmatic
and well-intentioned spirit.

Borissov stressed Bulgaria's interest in pursuing a mutually
advantageous political dialogue on an equal footing with Russia,
 in which this country is guided by its national interests and
adheres to the common European and Euro-Atlantic policies, the
press release said.

According to the Prime Minister, both Bulgaria and Russia stand
to gain from cooperating in a number of areas such as the
economy, energy, tourism, transport, education, science and
culture, and social policy, the Government Information Service
said.

The Borissov-Makarov meeting comes a day after the Russian
Foreign Ministry served a note on the Bulgarian Ambassador in
Moscow Atanas Krastin, declaring a diplomat at the Bulgarian
Embassy a persona non grata. The move reciprocated for the late
October expulsion of a Russian diplomat posted in Sofia who was
implicated in spying.

On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir
Karakachanov said that the Bulgarian diplomat had left the
territory of Russia on Thursday night. ZH/LG


/СН/