President receives Bulgarian counterpart

(Tanjug)

President receives Bulgarian counterpart

BELGRADE -- Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said on Thursday it was "very important to Serbia to maintain the maximum level of unimpeded cooperation with Bulgaria."

Bulgaria is "an important partner," he added during his meeting in Belgrade on Thursday with Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev, and he thanked the country "for its support for Serbia's EU integration."

"Both countries agree that they should work together, expand their copperation, finish projects already started and design new ones," Nikolic told a joint news conference.

There is willingness for cooperation in many fields, like the energy sector and infrastructure, Nikolic noted.

The construction of the Nis-Sofia motorway will put the two countries permanently on the map of the most important roads in this part of the world, Nikolic said.

Serbia sees its Bulgarian minority as "a treasure of sorts and a golden link between the two countries," he added.

Plevneliev told reporters that his country was supporting "the friendly Serbia" in its efforts to join the EU.

According to him, EU integrations represent "a historic chance" to build a stable and prosperous region "despite its difficult heritage."

The Bulgarian head of state also announced a memorandum on cooperation in the area of EU integration.

He stressed the importance of "interconnectedness of traffic and energy networks," and described Corridor 10 and the Nis-Sofia highway as having "strategic importance."

Plevneliev said that Serbia has "sped up construction of Corridor 10 section toward the Bulgarian border," and that he received assurances this part of the highway would be opened by the end of...

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