Focus News Agency

Following a decision of the Municipal Council in Tran a local referendum will be held on June 11 on mining of gold in that region, Tran deputy Mayor Tsvetislava Tsvetkova told Focus News Agency.

''The caretaker government set the preparation for the upcoming presidency as one of two main subjects in its work.'' This is what caretaker Deputy PM Denitsa Zlateva stated from the tribune at the Bulgarian National Assembly, FOCUS News Agency reported.

Tomorrow, we will have the first draft version of the coalition agreement, we will continue with negotiations. This is what Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) MP Delyan Dobrev told journalists at the National Assembly after the party's meeting with United Patriots on forming a government, FOCUS News Agency reported.

There is still work to be done on the coalition agreement between Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and United Patriots. This is what Volen Siderov, co-chair of United Patriots parliamentary group, told journalists after the meeting of the two formations in relation to forming a government, FOCUS News Agency reported.

''The tone of the first session of the 44th National Assembly was constructive, hopefully it will remain so in future'', said interim Prime Minister Prof. Ognyan Gerdzhikov, FOCUS News Agency reports.

He wished good luck to the new MPs and voiced his view that there were too few women and lawyers elected to this Parliament.

The Bulgarian government approved the provision of humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. The aid totalled to EUR 300,000, provided from the approved funds of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget for official development support and humanitarian aid, the government information service announced, quoted by Focus News Agency.

Military officials in Greece say four army officers have been killed and one injured in the crash of a border patrol helicopter in northern Greece, Ekathimerini writes, quoted by Focus News Agency.

Bulgarian MPs elected five deputy chairpersons for the 44th National Assembly, a reporter of FOCUS News Agency reported.

The parliamentary group of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) will hold a meeting today, April 18, before the first working day of the 44th Bulgarian National Assembly, Focus News Agency reported.

The negotiations with coalition of the United Patriots - NFSB, ATAKA and VMRO, are also expected to continue.

Interim Prime Minister Gerdzhikov met with members of the National Council of the Bulgarian minority in Serbia and discussed issues of concern to the Bulgarians in the Western Outlands.