site.btaPrime Minister Denkov: Strategic Partnership between Greece and Bulgaria Plays Decisive Role Stability of Southeastern Europe

Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov delivered a speech on Saturday night at the Ioannis Velidis Congress Centre in Thessaloniki in the presence of his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "We are proud of our strategic partnership, which plays a decisive role for the stability of the entire region of South-Eastern Europe," Denkov said. 

Before speaking to the multitude of politicians, public figures and journalists at the congress centre, Denkov visited the Bulgarian stands at the Thessaloniki International Fair. This year, Bulgaria is the honoured country at the largest trade exhibition in Southeast Europe.

At the beginning of his speech, Denkov thanked his hosts and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis for the honour of Bulgaria being an honoured country at this year's edition of the Thessaloniki Fair.

Denkov recalled the fires and catastrophic floods in Greece and noted that the last few days have witnessed the worst possible consequences of climate change. He expressed Bulgaria's full solidarity with the "friendly Greek people". Denkov recalled that in Bulgaria floods have also claimed human lives and that the two countries are facing similar problems that make mutual aid and cooperation between them a necessity. As an example of this solidarity, he gave the Bulgarian firefighters, who this year helped to fight the severe fires in Greece. The Bulgarian Prime Minister stressed the need for a global response to the challenges and, more specifically, the integration of early warning and disaster response systems.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister defined Bulgaria's participation as an honorary country at the fair as proof of the excellent level of relations between Sofia and Athens, as well as in recognition of the important role that Bulgaria plays in the region. He said that the presence of such a forum gives a wide range of opportunities for deepening the already very good economic cooperation.

The Prime Minister recalled that Bulgaria is represented in several sectors - information and high technologies, energy, infrastructure, construction, education, tourism and the food industry. Among the Bulgarian companies with a strong international presence, he pointed out EnduroSat, a significant factor in satellite and space technologies, and Telerik Academy, which offers affordable and innovative training in digital technologies. He also noted the presence of Sofia Tech Park, the Bulgarian Investment Agency, and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Denkov said that under the rule of Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Greece has become an attractive place for foreign investments, including Bulgarian, which are focused on construction, infrastructure and tourism. The Bulgarian Prime Minister expressed hope that they will expand in the near future to areas such as communications and information technology.

Denkov also pointed out the importance of the large infrastructure projects between the two countries, such as the IGB Gas Interconnector, the liquefied natural gas terminal near Alexandroupoli, the Alexandroupoli - Burgas oil pipeline project. He reiterated that Bulgaria has a particular interest in the future plans for the development and management of the ports in Kavala and Alexandroupolis, especially in view of the changed situation in the Black Sea due to Russian aggression against Ukraine. Denkov stressed that these projects also require the construction of a modern connecting infrastructure between the two countries. He said that Bulgaria and Greece can become an energy and transport hub not only of regional, but also of pan-European importance.

Denkov pointed to good neighbourly relations, along with participation in the EU and connectivity, as the main factor for transforming the Balkans into a prosperous and modern European region. The Bulgarian Prime Minister stated that he can proudly say that Bulgaria and Greece have a leading role with their example of good neighbourliness after centuries of coexistence that has gone through peace and war, ups and downs. 

"Greek-Bulgarian relations flourished because they have a solid foundation: our common values and our strong belief in a democratic international system based on the principles of international law. We are proud of our strategic partnership, which plays a decisive role in the stability of the entire region of South-Eastern Europe", said Denkov.