site.btaParliament Leader of Cyprus Pays Official Visit in Sofia

108 POLITICS - BULGARIA - CYPRUS - PARLIAMENT LEADER - VISIT ampl

Parliament Leader
of Cyprus
Pays Official Visit in Sofia


Sofia, July 30 (BTA) - Paying an official visit to Bulgaria on Tuesday at the head of a parliamentary delegation, the President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Demetris Syllouris, met with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and National Assembly Chair Tsveta Karayancheva. Bilateral relations dominated the talks, as well as ways to further enhance cooperation.

In a joint statement after the meeting with the guest, Tsveta Karayancheva said that they discussed the fine political and parliamentary relations and pointed out that Cyprus was among the first countries to ratify the treaty of Bulgaria's accession to the EU.

She said the Bulgarian community in Cyprus and the Cypriot students in Bulgaria are a bridge between the two nations.

"We discussed cooperation in culture, education and most of all tourism, and that Bulgaria and Cyprus can offer a joint tourist product," said Karayancheva.

Syllouris noted the excellent bilateral relations and said that his country has much gratitude for Bulgaria from the time after the Turkish invasion when this country provided work and bread for thousands of Cypriots who had lost their homes. He said that the work opportunities which his country now offers to Bulgarians, is a small repayment for what Bulgaria did.

Borissov and Syllouris gave a high mark to Bulgaria-Cyprus relations and found them to be developing steadily in the spirit of friendship and cooperation, said the government press office.

Borissov expressed hope that the scope of visits of government ministers will broaden further. He noted the persistent growth of two-way trade and stressed the potential of bilateral agreements that were signed in the recent years in agriculture, tourism, the energy industry, culture, education and research, and maritime shipping.

The Bulgarian government leader said that Cyprus is an important trade and economic partner and that opportunities should be sought to increase the commercial exchange, including by joint foray on third markets.

Later in the day Syllouris will meet with the Bulgaria-Cyprus Friendship Group in the Bulgarian Parliament and with President Rumen Radev. LN/IG