Governments of Ukraine and Bulgaria held their first joint consultations and agreed to develop a roadmap of practical bilateral steps
In Kyiv, the Governments of Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria held their first joint consultations. “This marks an important step toward a new level of cooperation between our countries. I am grateful to Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and all members of the Bulgarian Government for their visit to Kyiv and for their readiness to deepen cooperation in areas of strategic importance to both our nations,” emphasized Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The parties adopted a Joint Statement and agreed to develop a Roadmap of bilateral practical steps. Key areas include energy, defense, transport, security in the Black Sea area, and meeting the educational needs of our children and youth.
According to the Head of the Ukrainian Government, the parties also discussed the supply of diesel fuel and increasing gas deliveries through the Vertical Gas Corridor and the Trans-Balkan route. Special attention was paid to the possibility of Bulgarian companies utilizing the capacity of Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities.
Bulgaria’s experience in the field of nuclear energy management is also valuable to Ukraine. We are particularly grateful to the Bulgarian government for its assistance in restoring and strengthening the energy sector.
Yulia Svyrydenko welcomed the Bulgarian government’s intention to join the PURL initiative. They discussed security in the Black Sea region and Ukraine’s inclusion in the maritime demining group.
“We are deepening transport cooperation and have agreed to expand railway connection between our States,” added the Prime Minister.
According to her, our country is interested in involving Bulgaria and its companies in Ukraine’s reconstruction projects, particularly in the Odesa region, where a large Bulgarian community resides. “Ukraine is proud to be a multinational state. Therefore, an important outcome of the meeting was the signing of the Protocol on the operation of the Georgi Rakovski Bolhrad Gymnasium in Odesa region. At the same time, there are currently about 80,000 Ukrainians in Bulgaria, including 20,000 children. We are working together to incorporate a Ukrainian component into the country’s educational system,” noted Yulia Svyrydenko.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine thanked the Bulgarian people for their consistent support of Ukraine on its path to the EU and in our struggle for a just and lasting peace, as well as for their sanctions policy against the aggressor state.
“In the coming months, we will build on the agreements reached and hold the next round of consultations between our governments in Bulgaria. We also plan to resume the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation,” noted the Head of the Ukrainian Government.