Turkey and Bulgaria sign cooperation agreements

Source : Anadolu Agency | Ankara | 20 Mar 2012

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday expressed his country's willingness to increase trade between Turkey and Bulgaria, saying the bilateral trade volume was 4 billion USD 2011-end.

"We do not consider that figure a sufficient one. And we will exert efforts to improve that further," Erdogan told a joint press appearance with his Bulgarian counterpart Boiko Borisov after a meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Erdogan said Bulgaria was the most important trade partner for Turkey in the Balkans, however, adding that there were some problems in trade of agricultural products and in fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Turkish premier said Bulgaria had a large population of Turks who he said should act as a bridge between the two countries to further develop friendly relations.

"Turks in Bulgaria as citizens with equal rights are making important contributions to Bulgaria's stability, prosperity and development. Every step to be taken for Bulgaria's development will be important for the peace and prosperity of our kin there," Erdogan said.

Borisov, on his part, said a gas inter-connector between Bulgaria and Turkey would be a major achievement in relations between the two countries, adding that the natural gas grids of the two countries would be linked soon.

"This is a big success for our relations. And we hope to finalize the project before May," Borisov told the press conference.

The two prime ministers also signed a joint declaration expressing willingness to establish a High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

Bulgarian prime minister's visit also saw the penning of a series of cooperation agreements between the two countries on areas that included media, defense, transportation, communication, culture and tourism, energy.

Anadolu Agency Director General and Board Chairman Kemal Ozturk signed a cooperation agreement with Bulgarian News Agency.