Georgian Parliamentarians Talk with Bulgarian Lawmakers, Prime Minister


Sofia, February 26 (BTA) - A Georgian parliamentary delegation
led by Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili was welcomed in the
debating chamber of the Bulgarian National Assembly on Thursday,
the National Assembly press office said. The guests had talks
with the leadership of the Foreign Policy Committee and the
European Affairs Committee.

Foreign Policy Committee Chairwoman Djema Grozdanova reiterated
Bulgaria's support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.
Grozdanova said that Bulgaria and Georgia have a tradition of
good bilateral relations and called for deeper cooperation
between the committees in the two countries' parliaments.
Bulgarian Socialist Kristian Vigenin, who is former Foreign
Minister, said that Georgia is a model to be emulated by the
Eastern Partnership countries. Vigenin said Bulgaria can provide
expertise to Georgia.

Tedo Japaridze, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in
the Georgian Parliament, said that his country aspires to join
the Euro-Atlantic community, but it is aware that the path is
long and difficult. Georgia could use the experience which
Bulgaria amassed in the lead-up to its full EU membership,
Japaridze said.

Later in the day, the Georgian parliamentarians were received by
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the Government
Information Service reported. Borissov said that Bulgaria was
one of the first EU member states to ratify the EU-Georgia
Association Agreement. It is also among the top 10 trade
partners of Georgia.

Borissov and Usupashvili discussed bilateral cooperation in
transport, energy security, agriculture and tourism. They noted
the traditionally good relations between Bulgaria and Georgia.
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