Presidents of Bulgaria and Russia, Rumen Radev and Vladimir Putin, Met in Sochi

The Presidents of Bulgaria and Russia Rumen Radev and Vladimir Putin met at the Bocharov Ruchei Residence in Sochi on 22^nd of May. The two presidents acknowledged Rumen Radev's visit to Russia as being a sign for restoring bilateral relations.

Following his meeting with the Russian President, President Radev told a news conference that he had renewed his invitation to Vladimir Putin to visit Bulgaria.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has an invitation to visit Moscow and meet with President Putin and Prime Minister Medvedev at the end of the month, government's press office said.

"The purpose of my visit is to restart political dialogue at the summit level because this dialogue is important for the success of cooperation in all areas of shared interest," the Bulgarian Head of State said.

During the talks, I introduced President Rumen Radev to our priorities in bilateral relations. And on Russia's position on international issues. I believe that this visit by Mr. Radev is a good signal for restoring the full relations between Russia and Bulgaria, President Putin said.

Rumen Radev believes that relations between the two countries are based not only on purely political and economic interests but on deep historical, spiritual, cultural and linguistic ties between the two nations.

"That is why the two countries have a special relationship which is based not only on purely political and economic interests but on deeply rooted historical, spiritual, cultural and linguistic ties between our peoples. This gives us a number of advantages and makes our relations more natural and easier, and at the same time obliges us to be open, to raise candidly all the topics where we have differences and unresolved issues,” Radev said.

The first huge step in renewing the relationship has already been made, Rumen Radev is convinced.

I know that it is difficult to talk about trust after the abandonment of three major projects, in conditions of sanctions and restrictive regimes, as well as after short-sighted political talking in recent years, Radev noted.

The Bulgarian President sees a huge potential for cooperation between the two countries in the areas of economy, energy, tourism and transport.

“I am glad that my visit, among other factors, gives a positive impetus to the Bulgarian Government, which has adopted a more serious approach to Bulgarian-Russian relations. There is also talk of a revival," Radev said. We look forward to the visit of Boyko Borissov. I very much hope that specific topics will be discussed, he added.

Rumen Radev and Vladimir Putin have discussed international security issues.

I assured Putin that Bulgaria has an interest in working for dialogue, because no one wants the return of the Cold War, especially Europe and Russia, Radev said.

Both presidents stressed that the meeting coincided with two important events in our shared history - 140 years since the Bulgarian Liberation from Ottoman rule and on the eve of May 24 - the Day of Slavonic Alphabet and Culture.

The meeting between the presidents of Bulgaria and Russia - Rumen Radev and Vladimir Putin - is the first one at such a high level after nearly a ten-year break in bilateral relations.