 The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, and his wife, Barbara Mikliè Türk, arrived on their first official visit to Bulgaria accompanied by a sizeable delegation of businessmen, including 56 representatives of various Slovenian companies. The Slovenian President and his wife were greeted by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov, and his wife, Zorka Petrova Parvanova. After a reception ceremony with military honours, the Slovenian President laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in St Alexander Nevsky Square in Sofia. The two presidents then had a short tête-à-tête followed by plenary talks between the delegation of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Slovenia headed by the two presidents. |
 The presidents discussed, in particular, relations between the two countries, which they assessed as very good and amicable. President Türk said that both countries have many reasons for developing political dialogue. They are both members of the European Union and NATO and, according to the Slovenian President, intense political consultations between smaller countries should be held regularly in the context of the European Union because they contribute significantly to the development of common European policy. President Parvanov assessed that political dialogue between the two countries has been stable and that economic cooperation has been improving and holds great potential irrespective of the financial and economic crisis. A joint Slovenian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, established in Bulgaria at the end of 2008, and the Bulgarian-Slovenian Business Forum, attended by Slovenian and Bulgarian businessmen and both presidents, can contribute significantly to increased trade in goods and investments. Dr Türk mentioned successful bilateral cooperation in the fields of culture, science and education. He referred to the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation signed by the two countries in 2007, providing a basis for carrying out 14 two-year bilateral research projects in the period 2009–2010. |
 The two presidents talked about European Union issues. President Parvanov congratulated President Türk on the successful Slovenian presidency of the European Union, which has shown that small countries can preside over the European Union. President Türk said that Slovenia values Bulgarian experience in the Black Sea area and in establishing relations with the countries of the Eastern Partnership very highly. He explained that the European Union has a strong strategic need to develop partner relations with its neighbouring countries to the East. He pointed out that in practice and as regards appropriate content such partnership is not easy to achieve; therefore, the Bulgarian experience in this area can be very useful to the European Union. |
 The Slovenian President and Bulgarian President also exchanged views on projects ensuring energy security in the European Union, namely the project of constructing the South Stream and Nabucco pipelines. President Paranov noted that both countries have these projects on the agenda and that bilateral cooperation would facilitate both. President Türk added that Slovenia is interested in the construction of the South Stream pipeline. He went on to say that experience with this project shows how the content of cooperation between the European Union and its neighbours to the East can contribute towards shaping a common European energy future and the partnership between the European Union Member States and their neighbourhood. |
 | During a working lunch hosted in honour of Dr Türk by Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergej Stanishev, the two leaders exchanged detailed views on measures taken by the two countries to overcome the global financial and economic crisis and on the situation in South Eastern Europe, in particular on strengthening the European perspective of these countries. |
 In his opening address to the Bulgarian-Slovenian Business Forum, President Türk stressed that this forum provided substantive content of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The President said that Slovenia and Bulgaria are members of the European Union, a large organisation devoted to peace, prosperity and development of the whole of Europe that enables individuals and companies to develop their civil, political and economic freedom. He continued by adding that this is a great opportunity that must be seized, in particularly in view of the current crisis conditions. It is now time to determine the way forward and consider the long-term future with ambition and strategy, which is also the purpose of the business forum. President Türk assessed that both countries have certain gaps in the area of communications, traffic and cooperation practice that must be overcome as soon as possible. He said that efforts should be made to increase the volume of mutual trade to half a billion euros. Among areas of interest relating to economic cooperation, the President pointed to tourism in particular, and to retail trade, energy and other areas. The business forum was attended by over 100 businessmen from both countries, with numerous bilateral meetings held on its margins. The Slovenian business delegation will be received by the Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy, Petar Dimitrov. |
 | Later in his visit, President Türk met the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Georgi Pirinski, who presented the work of the Bulgarian Parliament during the weeks leading up to the parliamentary elections to be held at the beginning of July 2009. They agreed on the importance of strengthening cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries. President Pirinski also presented the views of Bulgarian, Macedonian, Albanian and Italian parliaments on the planned Pan-European Transport Corridor No. VIII, which will connect these countries and bring them even closer. |