Bulgaria is set to reopen its embassy in Baghdad and open a new consulate in Erbil in 2012 in a bid to help strengthen ties between the two countries.
The news came during a meeting between Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov during a recent trip to Bulgaria.

Bulgaria's embassy in Baghdad was shut down in 2003 as war loomed on the horizon.

In a separate meeting, Barzani and Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov discussed ways to develop cooperation and investment opportunities in a number of fields including agriculture, energy, water resources, education, health and tourism.

“We would like to establish a strategic relationship with the Kurdistan Region, and to this end, we're prepared to work with you in a number of areas," said Borisov.

"We'll encourage Bulgarian companies to explore trade and investment opportunities in Kurdistan and through Kurdistan as a gateway, in the rest of Iraq."

Barzani said that the Kurdistan Regional Government is equally keen to establish strong ties with Bulgaria and it invites Bulgarian firms and investors to explore opportunities in the region.

Both sides agreed on the need for follow-up meetings by field experts and further visits between officials from both sides to further explore areas for mutual cooperation.

Barzani also met Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev and talked about the many cultural and historical similarities that exist between the two countries.

The delegation ended its two-day visit to Bulgaria on Friday and traveled on to the United States to meet President Barack Obama and other US officials this week.










AKnews