MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Bulgaria will not become a member of the European Union's 19-member eurozone monetary union in the near future, Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Boyko Kotzev said Thursday.
"Bulgaria will be part of the eurozone, because it is a commitment that the country has taken on at the signing of the Treaty of Accession to the European Union. When and on what terms will this happen is a matter for a separate agreement between Bulgaria and the European Commission. In any case, no entry is foreseen in the near future," Kotzev told RIA Novosti.
EC-Bulgaria Working Group Ready for Balkan Hub Gas Talks With Russia
The European Commission-Bulgaria joint working group on the so-called Balkan gas hub are ready for talks with Russian energy company Gazprom if it is interested in the project, Bulgaria's ambassador to Russia said.
"Gazprom has been provided with all information on the project, and in case of interests, EC and Bulgarian representatives in the working group are ready to start trilateral talks," Ambassador Boyko Kotzev told RIA Novosti.
"It was this project that we have presented to Russia and are willing to further discuss Russia's willingness and opportunity to participate in it," the ambassador said.
Russia, Bulgaria Activate Bilateral Contacts in 2016 After Long Pause
Bilateral contacts between Bulgaria and Russia have notably activated this year after a long pause, Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Boyko Kotzev said.
"With regard to contacts between the two countries, it should be noted that after stagnation there is a positive trend this year," Kotzev told RIA Novosti.
"Throughout the year, ministers of agriculture, the economy, energy have visited Russia. A bilateral meeting among foreign ministers was held in Sochi within the framework of the [Black Sea Ecopnomic Agreement]," Kotzev added.
Russians Spend Longest Holidays in Bulgaria
Russian tourists rank first in terms of the duration of holidays in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Boyko Kotzev said Thursday.
"Russian tourists use many extra services and thus combine different types of tourism during their vacation. They are at the first position among tourists from 37 states on the duration of holidays, on average, they spend 9-10 days in our country," Kotzev told RIA Novosti.
According to the ambassador, Russia has been at the fourth place among other states whose nationals visit Bulgaria as tourists. A total of 465,276 Russian nationals visited this Balkan nation with a tourism purpose in the first eight months of 2016, the ambassador noted.
New Bulgarian President to Pursue Ties With Russia
The new Bulgarian president will pursue the policy of developing relations with Russia, Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Boyko Kotzev said.
"I think there should be no doubt that under the new Bulgarian president, Bulgaria will pursue a consistent policy of developing relations with Russia on the basis of mutually beneficial and equal cooperation," Kotzev told RIA Novosti.
Bulgarians go to the polls to elect their next president for a five-year term on Sunday, November 6.
Kotzev pointed out that cooperation between two countries is a two-way road, noting that "we are prepared to walk our part of the way."
Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Calls Cultural Cooperation Priority for Bilateral Dialogue
Cultural cooperation between Russia and Bulgaria is a priority for the bilateral dialogue as it has a solid historical background and a great potential, Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Boyko Kotzev told RIA Novosti.
"The collaboration in the sphere of culture is a priority for the bilateral dialogue and it has a great potential… As you know, Bulgaria will take over EU presidency in early 2018. And when we talk about European culture, we cannot ignore Russian culture, which has made an enormous contribution not only to the European culture but also to the world's cultural heritage," Kotzev said.
According to the ambassador, Bulgaria would like to implement a number of huge cultural projects in 2018, such as performances of the Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet at the Bolshoi Theater, exhibitions of Bulgarian artists at the Tretyakov Gallery among many others.
The ambassador noted that there were many ideas for the development of bilateral cooperation, and expressed hope that they would be put into practice.
