Bulgaria, Azerbaijan sign joint declaration on strategic partnership

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and his visiting Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership between the two countries.

The leaders said Bulgaria and Azerbaijan share common positions on a number of issues on the agenda of cooperation in the Black Sea region.

"Azerbaijan is a key partner in our efforts to ensure diversification and to improve energy security not only in Europe, but also in Southeast Europe," President Plevneliev emphasized.

The leaders said they were ready to develop bilateral relations not only in energy, but also in the spheres of pharmacy, information technology, agriculture and food production, infrastructure construction and tourism.

Plevneliev also voiced his firm support for strengthening the strategic partnership between the European Union and Azerbaijan.

In turn, Aliyev stressed the necessity to encourage cooperation in the Black Sea and Caspian region, which would contribute to ensuring greater predictability in regional relationships. Endit