President de Marco invites the President of Bulgaria to visit Malta

The relations between Malta and Bulgaria and the prospects of strengthening the economic, cultural, educational and commercial ties between the two countries were discussed by the President of Malta, Prof. Guido de Marco and the President of Bulgaria, Petar Stoyanov. The meeting between the two Heads of State followed immediately after the arrival of the President of Malta in the Bulgarian Capital Sofia, the first stop in this Central European round of state visits.

President de Marco said that Malta, like Bulgaria, had passed through a history of occupations by other nations. This, pointed out the President of Malta, resulted in the strengthening of the national identity. Both governments are seeking for their country entry to the European Union. President de Marco spoke also of the need to increase trade between Malta and Bulgaria. Much, said President de Marco, can be done to increase tourism and encourage investment.

President Stoyanov greeted the President of Malta warmly and spoke of the wisdom of co-operation between the two countries, both seeking integration with the European Union. The Bulgarian President said that he was sure that Malta was speedily achieving the criteria necessary for joining the European Union. From his country's point of view, President Stoyanov said that it was crucial that this process towards joining the European Union would not be stopped at any point.

During the earlier talks between the two Presidents, as well as during the Press Conference, the President of Malta made reference to the present situation in Macedonia and expressed the hope that the issue could be solved peacefully and not be allowed to escalate.

President Stoyanov invested President de Marco with the "Stara Planina", the highest decoration given to Heads of State by the Republic of Bulgaria. President de Marco invested President Stoyanov with the Companion of Honour with collar of the National Order of Merit.

These talks were held after the official welcoming ceremony in St. Alexander Nevsky Square in Sofia, where President de Marco laid a wreath on the monument of the Unknown Soldier. The Minister of Education, Dr. Louis Galea, who is accompanying the President, had talks with his Bulgarian counterpart. Later, he signed an agreement for co-operation in the field of health care and medical science on behalf of the Government of Malta.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Ivan Kostov, called on the President of Malta where matters of common interests between the two countries were discussed. Prime Minister Kostov augured that the visit by President de Marco would herald more high level exchanges between the two countries so that the bi-lateral ties could be strengthened. Following the meeting with Prime Minister Kostov, President de Marco called on the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Yordan Sokolov.

In the evening, the President of Malta was the guest of the President of Bulgaria at a state dinner given in his honour.