site.bta"Bulgaria Continues to Count on Italy's Support" for Eurozone, Schengen

"Bulgaria continues to count on Italy's support for the implementation of its priorities, including accession to the Eurozone and the Schengen area," National Assembly Chair Rossen Zhelyazkov told the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, Lorenzo Fontana, at a meeting in Rome on Wednesday.

Zhelyazkov led a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation on a visit to Rome and Vatican City on May 24, the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture and Slav Literature.

The delegation comprised National Assembly Deputy Chairs Tsoncho Ganev and Filiz Hyusmenova, GERB-UDF Floor Leader Dessislava Atanassova, Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria Co-Floor Leader Atanas Atanassov, BSP for Bulgaria Secretary Irena Anastassova and There Is Such a People Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov. It also included representatives of the President's Institution, the executive government, the leadership of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.

Zhelyazkov gave high marks for the state of Bulgaria's relations with Italy, an important partner in the EU and ally in NATO. He expressed willingness to maintain the active political dialogue between the two countries at all levels and the interaction on matters of mutual interest. "I am confident that parliamentary cooperation in all its forms will become a driver for strengthening relations between Bulgaria and Italy," the guest said. He added that a Bulgaria-Italy Friendship Group is to be set up in the new Bulgarian Parliament, which will help promote bilateral cooperation at the parliamentary level.

According to Zhelyazkov, Italy is an important trading partner to Bulgaria and a key investor in the Bulgarian economy. "Considerable potential exists for even more active trade and economic relations, even more substantial Italian investment in Bulgaria and an expansion of the presence of Bulgarian products on the Italian market," he added.

He expressed Bulgaria's willingness to invigorate cooperation in the energy sector, including in the context of Italy's role in the strategic project for the Southern Gas Corridor and the effort to increase energy security in the region.

The war in Ukraine was among the topics discussed. Zhelyazkov briefed Fontana on the Bulgarian National Assembly's resolution to provide military and military-technical support to Ukraine. He noted that while aiding Ukraine, Bulgaria will keep pushing for fair and lasting peace.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Bulgarian delegation led by Zhelyazkov was given an audience by Pope Francis, as is usual on May 24.

The Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet was also celebrated with a reception at the Bulgarian Embassy in Rome. National Assembly Chair Rossen Zhelyazkov greeted the audience, which included MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Italian senators and members of the local Bulgarian community.

Zhelyazkov said: "This is not a day for celebrating grand victories and wars won. It is a day for celebrating creativity, culture, our alphabet."

Bulgaria's cultural anthem "Go Forth, You People Reborn" was played at the gathering. There was a show of folk songs and dances.