Bulgarian President ends visit

Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg yesterday offered his full support to fellow EU member state Bulgaria when it gets the green light to join the eurozone and Schengen area.

He was speaking during the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two countries at the end of a two-day visit by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.

The agreement will bind the two countries on matters of foreign policy and will pave the way for future agreements on, for example, economic relations and exchange of information.

Diplomatic relations between Malta and Bulgaria date back to 1971 and there are several bilateral cooperation agreements dealing, among others, with drug trafficking and security.

During his visit, Mr Parvanov met President George Abela and discussed bilateral and EU relations. He also visited the recently restored Carmelite Priory Museum in Mdina, the Limestone Heritage Museum and the Upper Barrakka Gardens.