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Maria Spassova

Energy and cross-border cooperation are priorities for Bulgaria and Greece, agreed both leaders of the countries Georgi Parvanov and Karolos Papoulyas on their meeting yesterday. Georgi Parvanov is on an official visit in Greece until today.

“I expressed my hope for accelerating the works of pipeline Stara Zagora-Dimitrovgrad-Komotini, which is extremely important to us and this became clear during the last gas crisis,” said the Bulgarian President after the discussions of both delegations. Present at the discussions were also Minister of Territorial Development Traycho Traykov and the Minister of Transportation Rosen Pehlivanov. Representing the Greek side on the discussions were deputy PM Theodoros Pangalos and Ecology Minister Tina Birbili.

“The border post at Komotini-Makaza will open within 2010, since the works are almost finished,” promised the Greek President Karolos Paloulyas. Unfortunately, what will happen to the border post Xanti and Zlatograd, which is of great strategic importance, remained unclear.

Georgi Parvanov underlined the importance of the border posts as well as for the people crossing and for the economies of both countries. “Last year one million Greeks have visited Bulgaria and one million Bulgarians have visited Greece. Opening new border posts will bring to life the tourism between the two countries.”

Today Georgi Parvanov will meet the Archbishop of Athens and of whole Greece Yeronimos and will lay flowers before the fore of the Unknown Soldier. After that he will visit the National Archeological Museum in Greece and will have lunch with PM Georgios Papandreou. During the early afternoon the Presidents of Bulgaria and Greece will open a big business forum, organized by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Photo - BTA