Bulgaria, Serbia "must intensify relations"

SOFIA Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic agreed on Wednesday that the two countries "need to intensify their relations." This is especially in terms of economy, the two presidents said, and announced joint sessions of the two governments. Bulgaria, Serbia "must intensify relations" At a joint news conference, Plevneliev and Nikolic expressed the belief that the Wednesday visit of the Serbian president to Sofia would be a milestone in the achievement of this goal. The presidents said that good relations between Serbia and Bulgaria are highly valuable and added that they send a good message to foreign investors. If Bulgaria and Serbia had weak ties, investors would not come to either Serbia or Bulgaria, Nikolic and his host Plevneliev said. The two presidents announced joint sessions of the two governments, joint efforts on the construction of the motorway from Sofia to Nis and the works on the railway section on the same corridor, underscoring that politicians need to create room for easier cooperation between businessmen. Nikolic noted that Serbia considers Bulgaria's support to full EU membership as very important. "Serbia has demonstrated responsibility and willingness to reach a compromise with a view to preserving lasting stability in the region," he said. Nikolic once more underscored the importance of good neighbourly relations between Serbia and Bulgaria and added that the two countries are facing a historical chance to make use of all their potentials, enhance their cooperation in infrastructure, energy and international cooperation. Plevneliev said that he deeply believes in the European future of Serbia, and offered assistance on the path so that Serbia would not make the same mistakes which Bulgaria made earlier in the process. Plevneliev stated that the two countries would write new pages of history and that they can look to the future and make progress on their paths together. Nikolic launched his official visit to Sofia on Wednesday and was welcomed with highest military and state honours by his Bulgarian counterpart at the Alexander Nevski Square. (Beta, file) "Economic cooperation potential is enormous" Rosen Plevneliev and Tomislav Nikolic on Wednesday opened the 2013 Serbo-Bulgarian Business Forum in Sofia and pointed to the enormous potential for economic and other kinds of cooperation between the two neighboring countries. Addressing a number of businessmen attending the event at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nikolic said that today, the foundation is being laid for a great building of friendship between Serbia and Bulgaria. "In the development of economic cooperation, we should also use the advantages of the differences between the two countries," the Serbian president said. Serbia's advantage is that, as a country which is not a member of the EU, it has doors of many countries and markets where it can be traded more freely opened to it, and Bulgaria can use that to its advantage, while on the other hand, Bulgaria, as a member of the EU, has easier access to some other markets, which is something that Serbia should take advantage of, Nikolic said. Nikolic expressed the expectation that Bulgaria will do everything to help Serbia reach full membership of the EU as soon as possible. The Serbian president pointed to regional stability and progress in relations between Serbia and Bulgaria as a precondition for both foreign investment and the two countries investment in each other and their cooperation in third markets. Plevneliev stressed that he came to the Forum to welcome the businessmen and investors from both countries and encourage them to cooperate. Plevneliev said that the region is known for wars and troubles from the past, but over the last ten years, both countries have been an example of good neighborliness and good overall prospects. He added that Serbia and Bulgaria are now bound by brotherhood and friendship and nothing can change that. "Many Bulgarian and Serbian companies will integrate, cooperate and work together to meet a number of common goals," said Plevneliev, pointing to the construction of a highway from Sofia to Nis in southern Serbia and works on railways and on setting up new border crossings as some of the most important projects. The Forum brought together a total of 96 Bulgarian and 27 Serbian businesspeople and officials from both countries’ chambers of commerce. Tanjug

Bulgaria, Serbia "must intensify relations"

At a joint news conference, Plevneliev and Nikolić expressed the belief that the Wednesday visit of the Serbian president to Sofia would be a milestone in the achievement of this goal.

The presidents said that good relations between Serbia and Bulgaria are highly valuable and added that they send a good message to foreign investors.

If Bulgaria and Serbia had weak ties, investors would not come to either Serbia or Bulgaria, Nikolić and his host Plevneliev said.

The two presidents announced joint sessions of the two governments, joint efforts on the construction of the motorway from Sofia to Nis and the works on the railway section on the same corridor, underscoring that politicians need to create room for easier cooperation between businessmen.

Nikolić noted that Serbia considers Bulgaria's support to full EU membership as very important.

"Serbia has demonstrated responsibility and willingness to reach a compromise with a view to preserving lasting stability in the region," he said.

Nikolić once more underscored the importance of good neighbourly relations between Serbia and Bulgaria and added that the two countries are facing a historical chance to make use of all their potentials, enhance their cooperation in infrastructure, energy and international cooperation.

Plevneliev said that he deeply believes in the European future of Serbia, and offered assistance on the path so that Serbia would not make the same mistakes which Bulgaria made earlier in the process.

Plevneliev stated that the two countries would write new pages of history and that they can look to the future and make progress on their paths together.

Nikolić launched his official visit to Sofia on Wednesday and was welcomed with highest military and state honours by his Bulgarian counterpart at the Alexander Nevski Square.

"Economic cooperation potential is enormous"

Rosen Plevneliev and Tomislav Nikolić on Wednesday opened the 2013 Serbo-Bulgarian Business Forum in Sofia and pointed to the enormous potential for economic and other kinds of cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

Addressing a number of businessmen attending the event at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nikolić said that today, the foundation is being laid for a great building of friendship between Serbia and Bulgaria.

"In the development of economic cooperation, we should also use the advantages of the differences between the two countries," the Serbian president said.

Serbia's advantage is that, as a country which is not a member of the EU, it has doors of many countries and markets where it can be traded more freely opened to it, and Bulgaria can use that to its advantage, while on the other hand, Bulgaria, as a member of the EU, has easier access to some other markets, which is something that Serbia should take advantage of, Nikolić said.

Nikolić expressed the expectation that Bulgaria will do everything to help Serbia reach full membership of the EU as soon as possible.

The Serbian president pointed to regional stability and progress in relations between Serbia and Bulgaria as a precondition for both foreign investment and the two countries investment in each other and their cooperation in third markets.

Plevneliev stressed that he came to the Forum to welcome the businessmen and investors from both countries and encourage them to cooperate.

Plevneliev said that the region is known for wars and troubles from the past, but over the last ten years, both countries have been an example of good neighborliness and good overall prospects.

He added that Serbia and Bulgaria are now bound by brotherhood and friendship and nothing can change that.

"Many Bulgarian and Serbian companies will integrate, cooperate and work together to meet a number of common goals," said Plevneliev, pointing to the construction of a highway from Sofia to Niš in southern Serbia and works on railways and on setting up new border crossings as some of the most important projects.

The Forum brought together a total of 96 Bulgarian and 27 Serbian businesspeople and officials from both countries’ chambers of commerce.