Aleksandar Vučić said in Dimitrovgrad, at a joint conference with the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, that the relations between Serbia and Bulgaria are really good.
“We cultivate sincere friendly relations with Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people,” Vucic added.
He conveyed that it was talked to his guest today, in addition to the topic of textbooks in the Bulgarian language and historical issues, primarily about the economy, employment and bringing investment to that part of Serbia.
As he said, they agreed to work together to find investors, in order to provide jobs for people.
“I told Radeva and the representatives of the Bulgarian minority that they can always count not only on a friendly relationship, but also on the completely open and open hands of the state towards them, because we do not see problems that would separate us,” Vucic said.
He stressed that members of the Bulgarian national minority should be a bridge between Serbia and Bulgaria.
“The largest number of requests is for information in the mother tongue and the development of new textbooks. We are willing to provide them with that, with the technical help of Bulgaria,” Vucic pointed out.
He also stated that the trade exchange between the two countries is good, which, however, can and must be even bigger.
“After the crown year, things are getting better. We expect to increase trade from 1.4 billion euros to 1.5 billion euros in the coming period,” Vucic said.
“Bulgaria and Serbia have no problems separating them”
We will try to respect the things that bind and bring us closer, as well as to solve the things that separated us in the past, said Vučić.
He pointed out that there are many joint projects, which are very important.
“We have built a highway to the border, and Bulgaria is building a fast road to Sofia, that is, a highway. We are carrying out a complete reconstruction of the railway, and at the beginning of next year works will begin on the Nis-Dimitrovgrad section, worth 270 million euros. railway, and we have an agreement with the EU on a fast railway to Nis, we will bring two additional countries and our two capitals closer, “Vucic explained.
He also reminded of the interconnector project, worth 89 million euros, estimating that it is an important investment for Serbia, because along with “Balkan Stream”, it will enable further diversification of energy sources.
He said that they talked about opening new small border crossings that would mean something to the citizens in the border zone.
“We will look at one-time working hours in the period from 7 to 15 or 4 pm,” announced Vučić.
He thanked Bulgaria for supporting Serbia on its European path and said that he wished the brotherly Bulgarian people all the best.
“We do not see any problems between our two countries. Visiting monuments and solving all historical problems that we should leave behind and think about the future, I think it has found fertile ground in our country. I wish all the best to the Bulgarian people, wherever they live, we “We are friends and brothers. Today we will unveil the monument to Cyril and Methodius and we will see to it that we respect the things that bind us and bring us closer and solve the things that separated us in the past,” Vucic said.
“We consider Bulgarians brothers”
As much as someone tried to raise tensions between Serbia and Bulgaria, they will get a friendly answer from Belgrade that we consider Bulgarians to be brothers, Vucic said.
“I am happy for our relations, grateful for the good relations, and we will develop them to the joy of these people who live here and share their love for our two countries, and we will continue to provide all kinds of help and support,” Vucic said.
Answering the question of the journalists, Vučić said that as far as the changes and the end of the name for Bulgarian women are concerned, Serbia resolved that issue in December 2018.
It is only necessary for them to take 15 minutes of time, go to the municipalities and change their names, Vučić mentioned.
Another thing is what percentage of those who have already done it or who want or do not want to do it. said Vucic.
As for the names of the streets and whether anyone wants to change the names of the streets of Bulgarian heroes, leaders and revolutionaries, people who are important for Bulgarian history, “it doesn’t even occur to us,” Vucic said.
“We see Bulgarians as friends and we don’t have that dose of passion that you show from time to time, we don’t even react when someone tells us that Pirot or Nis are Bulgaria. Even as president, I don’t react to that,” Vucic said.
Radev: A common European path with Serbia
The President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, stated that Bulgaria is building a common European path with Serbia and pointed out that President Vučić would fulfill everything he promised when it comes to what was agreed and the rights of the Bulgarian national minority in Serbia.
“We have been interacting with Vučić for years, we have openness and consideration of all issues, a clear vision of how to enhance cooperation and achieve even greater success, how to draw our common European path together,” Radev said in an address to the media after the meetings.
He thanked for the invitation and warm hospitality and reminded that a meeting of the two presidents was held for the first time three years ago, together with the Bulgarian national minority in Serbia.
“It was an unprecedented meeting. It shows a friendship, good neighborly relations and decisive action on the issue of our two peoples,” Radev said.
He said that a monument to Cyril and Methodius would be unveiled today, for which a cornerstone was laid three years ago, and that the monument would spiritually connect the two nations.
“Not only are we sharing a common spiritual space today, relying on Cyril and Methodius, but we are also writing the same alphabet. It shows historical closeness, but it also outlines our common path for our ambitions. We are moving towards further friendship,” Radev said.
“Thank you, President Vučić, because you fulfill all your obligations that you take on,” the President of Bulgaria said.
Radev said that the trade between the two countries is constantly increasing, with a slight decline last year due to the crown, and that he expects the foreign trade to increase again.
He noted that Serbia has already built a highway from Belgrade to Bulgaria and expressed hope that Bulgaria will complete its section to Dimitrovgrad in a year or two.
Radev says that the gas interconnector Nis-Dimitrovgrad-Bulgaria is also being built, and that the transmission gas systems of the two countries will be connected, which will enable diversification in the supply of energy.
He added that it was an idea for high-voltage connection of the systems of Serbia and Bulgaria.
Radev states that the most important communication is between people on both sides of the border and that almost 500,000 Serbian tourists come to Bulgaria every year, as well as that Bulgarians visit Serbia in even greater numbers.
“People are telling us in which direction we should go. We have considered better connections by expanding existing capacities and building new border crossings, so that our people can communicate more easily. Then come investments and economic cooperation, cultural-educational and other exchanges. Today. the meeting was important and showed that when two presidents give their support, then it is a sustainable policy and there are results, “Radev added.
Radev pointed out that President Vučić had been personally engaged since the meeting three years ago, and that the financing of the media in the Bulgarian language had increased and that other important results had been achieved.
Today, an important step has been taken in the development of joint relations, in various areas, from infrastructure to education, assistance …
He thanked Vučić for showing openness to solve problems and improve the position of the Bulgarian national minority through joint meetings.
“Our compatriots here should be proud and feel free, to preserve their national consciousness, roots of identity, but also not to forget that the condition for that is to be loyal citizens of the country in which they live and to respect its laws,” he said. Radev.
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