Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian’s official visit to Bulgaria kicked off on Friday.
First, he was received by President Rosen Plevneliev.
The Bulgarian President noted that the Armenian and Bulgarian peoples share a historical friendship, and that Sofia is interested in the further development of bilateral cooperation.
Plevneliev stressed that Bulgaria is proud of its Armenian children, who have had a major contribution to the prosperity of the country.
Nalbandian, for his part, conveyed to Plevneliev the greetings and best wishes by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
At the ensuing talk, the interlocutors stressed the bilateral readiness to give new impetus to Armenian-Bulgarian relations.
President Plevneliev and FM Nalbandian exchanged views on several regional and international matters, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this context, the Bulgarian president expressed a conviction that there is solely a pacific resolution to this conflict.
Subsequently, Edward Nalbandian met with Chairwoman Tsetska Tsacheva of the National Assembly (NA) of Bulgaria.
The Armenian FM thanked the Bulgarian parliament for the statement it had adopted in 2015, and on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Centennial.
At the ensuing talk, they underscored the role of parliamentary diplomacy in the development of interstate relations.
Tsacheva expressed a conviction that the broadening of cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries will help make Bulgaria-Armenia relations grow deeper.
The Armenian FM, in turn, highlighted the respective activities of parliamentary friendship groups.
Also, Nalbandian briefed the Bulgarian parliament speaker on the ongoing efforts by Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict.
On the same day, Armenian and Bulgarian FMs Edward Nalbandian and Daniel Mitov held talks.
Mitov noted that Armenia-Bulgaria relations are centuries-old.
Nalbandian, for his part, stressed that Armenia attaches great importance to its close historical ties with Bulgaria.
The FMs shared the view that new impetus is needed to the political discourse and additional efforts are needed to further deepen cooperation between the two countries.
The interlocutors reflected on numerous matters that are on their bilateral agenda, and exchanged views on urgent regional and international issues.
They discussed Armenia-European Union (EU) relations, too. In this context, FM Mitov reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support to the development of Armenia’s cooperation with EU.
In addition, Edward Nalbandian presented to Daniel Mitov the latest developments regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks.
Also, the Armenian FM invited his Bulgarian colleague to Armenia.
Subsequently, the two FMs held a joint news conference.
In addition, the Bulgarian FM gave an official dinner in honor of his Armenian counterpart.
Separately, Edward Nalbandian met with members of the Bulgaria-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Bulgarian NA. The Armenian FM highly appreciated the activities of the members of this group.
And on Friday evening, Edward Nalbandian got together with representatives of the Bulgarian Armenian organizations and associations.