Bulgaria considers the Bulgarian diaspora in Ukraine a natural bond between our two countries
10 November 2013 News
"Bulgaria considers the Bulgarian diaspora in Ukraine a natural bond between our two countries. The Bulgarian state will continue to support the efforts for preservation of the Bulgarian identity, language and traditions. This is a common goal and both the Bulgarian Embassy in Kyiv and the General Consulate in Odessa are working on its implementation," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Vigenin during his meetings with representatives of the Bulgarian community in Kyiv and Odessa.
Vigenin, who is on a two-day official visit to Ukraine, expressed hope that the socio-economic situation of the community will continue to improve within the framework of a European Ukraine.
Today in the General Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria in Odessa, Minister Kristian Vigenin welcomed the opportunity to meet with our compatriots in Ukraine for a second time and noted that such contacts contribute to a deeper understanding of the current problems and often lead to new ideas for solving them. He informed the meeting participants of the results of the official talks with the Ukrainian leadership and expressed commitment to cooperate on behalf of the Bulgarian state, for the development of the proposed ideas into concrete projects.
During the talks with the representatives of the Bulgarian diaspora, the Minister expressed Bulgaria’s support for the preservation and the development of its identity, and the need for it to be part of our active support for the European integration of Ukraine.
Vigenin was informed about the achievements and the current challenges faced by the Bulgarians in Ukraine. The community representatives expressed the need to attract our business to cooperation and investment in the interest of the development of the Bulgarian regions. They shared with the Foreign Minister ideas for implementation of project.
During the second day of his visit to Ukraine, Minister Vigenin held talks with the newly appointed Head of the Regional Administration at Odessa Regional ParliamentNikolai Skorik . "I welcome the pragmatic approach of the Ukrainian Prime Minister Azarov and I believe that during his forthcoming visit to Bulgaria, the opportunities for Ukraine's participation in specific projects of the Danube Strategy of the European Union will be discussed," Vigenin said. The governor expressed gratitude for the proposal and willingness to share certain ideas through the representation of the Ukrainian foreign ministry in Odessa.
In Odessa, the Minister made a gift, namely, literary fiction, to the Department of Bulgarian language in the Odessa National University "I.I.Mechnikov" and laid flowers at the monument of St. Cyril and Methodius. Previously Vigenin visited the Ukrainian Bulgarian Cultural Center.
Earlier, during his meeting with the Bulgarian diaspora in Kyiv, Minister Vigenin presented the "Golden Laurel branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" award to Yuriy Sedykh, President of the Ukraine - Bulgaria society, for his contribution to the promotion and development of the Bulgarian education and culture.
More photos
